The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense reported that 66 Chinese military aircraft were detected around Taiwan in the past 24 hours as of Thursday morning.
This is the highest number recorded this year.
According to Der Spiegel, out of the 66 military aircraft, 56 crossed the unofficial center line in the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) from the north, southwest, and southeast.
Alongside the military aircraft, Taiwan has also identified seven Chinese naval ships around the island.
Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has repeatedly threatened to use military force to achieve reunification.
Despite these threats, Taiwan has been governed by a democratically elected government for decades, with President Lai Ching-te and his Democratic Progressive Party advocating for Taiwan's independence.
Military Response
When Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwan's ADIZ, the Taiwanese armed forces respond by deploying their own military aircraft.
The day before this record incident, the Ministry of Defense reported an increased number of Chinese aircraft crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait, accompanying the Chinese aircraft carrier "Shandong" during an exercise.
The current Chinese military exercise coincides with a NATO summit in Washington, where the alliance has taken a firmer stance against China.
