Taiwan’s defence ministry said today that in the past 24 hours it had detected 40 Chinese air force aircrafts entering its air defence zone. It said, most of the warplanes passed through the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines. The ministry also released a map showing aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait to the northwest of the island.

According to reports, China has launched drills in the western Pacific involving its Shandong aircraft carrier and dozens of warplanes, which is being called its largest such manoeuvres in the region lately. However, There was no immediate comment from China on the drills. China views Taiwan as its own territory, steps up military and political pressure to assert its sovereignty claims. The move also comes in response to collusion between Taiwan independence forces and the US.