TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 18 Chinese ships and seven military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday (May 25) and 6 a.m. on Sunday (May 26). 

Of the 18 Chinese ships, 14 were People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships, while four were Chinese coast guard vessels, according to the MND. The seven PLA aircraft detected were all on the Chinese side of the Taiwan Strait median line. 

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval vessels and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA activity. 

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 366 times and naval/coast guard vessels 208 times. China carried out military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday (May 23) and Friday (May 24) in the waters and airspace around Taiwan.

During China’s “Joint Sword-2024A” drills, Beijing sent 111 Chinese military aircraft and 53 naval ships around Taiwan. The MND said the exercises were an “irrational provocation” and sent naval, air, and ground forces to respond.