China steps up military activities around Taiwan, 37 Chinese jets detected

Taipei: Taiwan said it detected 37 Chinese fighter jets, drones and other aircraft near the self-ruled island on Sunday, as Beijing flew “long-range” training flights.

China has stepped up military activities around Taiwan in recent years, as Beijing presses Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims over the island.

The Chinese aircraft were spotted from 9:00 am (0100 GMT) and 35 of them crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China and Taiwan, and entered Taiwanese airspace on their way to the western Pacific Ocean, the Defence Ministry said.

The ministry said Taiwan’s military responded by deploying aircraft, naval ships and shore-based missile systems.

The drills came a day after Taiwan said it had observed the Chinese military’s “joint combat readiness patrols” around the island that included fighter jets and warships.

Taiwan spotted 27 Chinese aircraft and six warships in the 24 hours leading up to 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, the ministry said earlier.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has refused to rule out the use of force to bring the democratic island under its control.

Beijing carried out large-scale military drills around Taiwan last month, drawing condemnation from Taipei and its key backer, the United States.

The ministry previously said the Chinese military conducted long-range training flights in late September, when Beijing also fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.