An unusually large number of Chinese military ships, planes and drones entered airspace and waters surrounding
Taiwan between Sunday and Monday, the self-governing island’s Defense Ministry said.
China said the drills were a response to recent statements and actions by the United States and Taiwan. Beijing
launches such missions on a daily basis, seeking to wear down Taiwanese defenses and morale, although the vast majority of the island’s 23 million people reject its claim of sovereignty over Taiwan.
Taiwanese Defense Minister Wellington Koo told legislators the drills were further evidence China was a “troublemaker” endangering peace in the region.
The ministry on Tuesday published on social media images of Chinese drones and ships. It said 43 out of 59 entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone but that no confrontations were reported. Taiwan monitored the situation and deployed aircraft, navy ships and coastal anti-ship missile defenses in response, the ministry said.
