The last air force exercises took place last June, a month after President Lai Ching-te took office.
The Taiwanese army announced that it had deployed fighter planes, ships and anti-missile defense systems for exercises this Thursday, November 28, while its Ministry of Defense reported having detected two new Chinese balloons near the island.
The maneuvers, which took place early in the morning, were intended to test “the response and engagement procedures of air defense units”, the Taiwan Air Force command said in a statement.
“Different types of aircraft, ships and missile defense systems were deployed between 5 and 7 a.m.,” the statement said, without providing further details.
Two Chinese balloons detected
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense also reported this Thursday that it had detected two Chinese balloons on Wednesday about 110 kilometers northwest of the island. Another Chinese balloon was detected on Sunday in the same area, the first since April.
Thirteen planes and seven military ships were also spotted around Taiwan in 24 hours.
China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949, but Beijing claims the island as an integral part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to take control of it.
China regularly deploys fighter jets and ships, occasionally balloons, around Taiwan in what Taipei describes as “gray zone” harassment, a hostile tactic but not open warfare.
Taiwan lives under constant threat of Chinese invasion and has increased its military spending in recent years to strengthen its military capabilities.
The island has a defense industry but relies heavily on arms sales from Washington, its largest supplier of arms and munitions.
