Taipei [Taiwan], August 21: Taiwan's Defense Ministry said that as of yesterday morning (August 20), 45 Chinese military aircraft and 9 warships had been detected operating around the island since August 19.
Taiwan has deployed aircraft, warships and land-based missile systems to monitor the activity. Earlier, China 's Eastern Theater Command announced to hold joint air and sea drills around Taiwan, according to the Global Times.
The activity took place after Taiwan's deputy leader Lai ThanhDuc had transit trips in the US on his way to visit Paraguay. The Chinese military says the drills are a stark warning to collusion between Taiwan independence forces and outside intervention forces.
In a statement yesterday, the US State Department called on China to stop exerting military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan and said it would closely monitor the exercise.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper