Taiwan announced - on Saturday - the sudden death of a senior military official running a missile production program, while it deployed warplanes and confirmed the readiness of its forces for a possible Chinese attack, amid escalating tension between the two sides.

Ouyang Li Hsing, 57, who oversees a missile production program, was confirmed to have died of a heart attack in a hotel, according to the institute where he worked.

Ouyang Li-hsing was the vice president of the National Zhongshan Institute of Science and Technology, a military body.

Taiwan News Agency reported that he traveled to the south of the country on a business trip.

The institute confirmed - in a statement posted on its website - that the official was found unconscious on Saturday in a hotel in Heng Chun, Ping Tong Province, and added that "a forensic examination stated that the cause of death was myocardial infarction and angina pectoris."

The Taiwanese agency said Ouyang was responsible for overseeing "the production of several types of missiles," and took up this position earlier this year.

The Taiwanese government is trying to ramp up its production of missiles, in the face of the threat of invasion by Beijing, which considers the island part of its territory.

Taiwan put the air force on alert (Getty Images)

Ships and warplanes

China has been conducting intensive military exercises around Taiwan since Thursday, in response to a visit to the island earlier by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said the air force deployed combat aircraft on Saturday to remove 20 Chinese planes, including 14 that crossed the dividing line in the Taiwan Strait.

The ministry added - in a statement - that it had also spotted 14 Chinese military ships carrying out activities around the Taiwan Strait.

The ministry said the Chinese People's Liberation Army may be simulating an attack against the autonomous island.

The statement said that the Taiwan armed forces have put combat air patrols, warships and ground-based missile systems on alert, in anticipation of any emergency.

Chinese warships and warplanes got so close to Taiwan on Friday that sailors and pilots were able to see its coast and central mountain range, according to the government's Global Times.

The ministry said 68 Chinese warplanes crossed the so-called mid-line dividing the Taiwan Strait.