Taiwan authorities said they detected 37 Chinese planes and drones, including fighter jets, near the island on Sunday, as part of “long-distance” training flights led by Beijing.
The Chinese planes were spotted from 9:00 a.m. local time (01:00 GMT) and 35 of them crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates China from Taiwan, entering Taiwanese airspace, the ministry said. of Defense.
Taiwan’s military deployed aircraft, ships and land-based missile systems in response, the ministry said.
The exercise came a day after Taiwan said it detected a Chinese military “joint combat readiness patrol” around the island, including fighter jets and warships.
Taiwan had spotted 27 Chinese planes and six warships in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Sunday, according to the ministry.
China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to place the island under its control, has intensified its military pressure around the island recently.
Last month, Beijing held large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, which were condemned by Taipei and its main ally, Washington.
The Chinese military had already carried out long-distance training flights in late September, the Taiwanese ministry previously said. During these maneuvers, Beijing fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.
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