Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai on Thursday told a court trying him for colluding with foreign powers that he paid a former U.S. general to advise former Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen in late 2017, but denied seeking to endanger China's national security.

Ex-media boss admits to payment after prosecutors challenge his claim of no foreign policy influence in Hong Kong and the mainland.

Taiwan will dispatch its navy if needed to help the coast guard respond to any suspicious activity near undersea communication cables, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Thursday, after a Chinese-linked ship was suspected of damaging one.

Taiwan says its navy can help the coast guard to protect the country's undersea communication cables in the wake of an incident with a Chinese-linked ship.