TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense said China had nearly doubled the number of naval vessels maneuvering around Taiwan from Saturday to Sunday. 

The ministry tracked seven Chinese military aircraft, 14 naval vessels, three official ships, and four balloons around the country between 6 a.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday. Eight Chinese naval vessels were detected over the previous 24 hours. 

The MND said that of the seven PLA aircraft, six crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the southwest air defense identification zone. 

The ministry also detected four Chinese balloons flying northeast across the Taiwan Strait. One floated over the northern tip of Taiwan in New Taipei's Shimen District. 

The MND said it monitored the situation. In response, it scrambled aircraft, dispatched naval vessels, and deployed land-based air defense missile systems.

The increased military activity occurs as China is expected to launch a third round of large-scale exercises around Taiwan in response to President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) tour of South Pacific allies. However, Reuters cited security sources as saying that the poor weather in the strait over the weekend likely impacted the timing of the exercises.