Taiwan intercepted a record 153 Chinese aircraft in one day near the island, according to data released today by Taiwan's Ministry of Defense at the end on the day of large-scale Chinese military exercises, reported France Press.
These flights took place within a 25-hour period that ended at 06:00 local time today (22:00 GMT yesterday), the ministry said, adding that during the same period they were 14 Chinese ships were also detected.
Beijing yesterday organized military exercises to encircle Taiwan with the help of aircraft and warships. They took place a few days after Taiwanese President Lai Chinte's speech on Taiwan's National Day on Thursday.
Lai promised to “oppose Chinese annexation” of the island or the “encroachment on (its) sovereignty”.
The exercises were presented by the Chinese military as a “warning” to the “separatists”, and Beijing regularly accuses the Taiwanese authorities of agitating for the island's independence.
China considers Taiwan one of its provinces, which it has not yet been able to unite with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, according to AFP.