The announcement comes a day after a US warship passed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
The military presence around Taiwan comes less than two weeks before the inauguration of the island’s president-elect, Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing considers a “dangerous separatist”.
Like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, Lai Ching-te rejects China’s claims to Taiwan.
China, which considers democratically-ruled Taiwan part of its territory, frequently sends warplanes and naval vessels to the area around the island. Beijing has said it will not rule out the use of force to seize control of Taiwan.
The 180 km wide Taiwan Strait separates Taiwan and China and is a busy shipping route.
The Ministry of Defense of Taipei stated that within 24 hours. period until Thursday 6 a.m. (local time, 1 a.m. Lithuanian time) 23 Chinese warplanes and five naval vessels were spotted around Taiwan.
“Eight aircraft crossed the median line,” the ministry noted, referring to the line dividing the Taiwan Strait, which Beijing does not recognize.
China’s military presence coincided with the USS Halsey’s passage through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday.
The US 7th Fleet said on Wednesday that on May 8 the routine destroyer transit that took place “demonstrates the United States’ commitment to freedom of navigation for all countries as a matter of principle.” “No member of the international community should be intimidated or forced to give up their rights and freedoms,” the navy said.
In a statement late Wednesday, Chinese Navy Colonel Li Xi, spokesman for the Eastern Territorial Command, called the US warship’s maneuvers “a public noise.” He added that the Eastern Territorial Command also deployed the Navy and Air Force to “observe the entire process of the passage of the US ship.”
