Top Taiwan defence official found dead in hotel amid Beijing-Taipei tensions

Ou Yang Li-Hsing, the deputy head of Taiwan defence ministry's research and development unit, was on Saturday found dead in a hotel room in southern Taiwan, according to Taiwan's official Central News Agency, reported Reuters.

According to the news report, Ou Yang was on a business trip to Pingtung. Authorities are looking into the cause of his death. Ou Yang was posted as the deputy head of the military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology early this year to supervise various missile production projects, the report stated.

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The news of his death comes hours after Taiwan's military said that the Chinese planes and ships operating in the Taiwan Strait were simulating an attack on its main island amid tensions between Beijing and Taipei following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island nation.

Beijing reportedly conducted military drills with more than 100 warplanes and 10 warships surrounding Taiwan's main island.

Preceding Nancy Pelosi's visit, China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory, had warned that it will take "resolute and forceful measures to firmly defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity."