Taiwan’s defence ministry on Monday said it registered 103 Chinese military aircraft in its airspace in 24 hours, marking a new high in the number of daily sorties.

Taiwan’s ministry of national defence said as of 6:00 a.m. on Monday (2200 GMT Sunday), 40 of the Chinese warplanes had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s south-western and south-eastern air space.

Meanwhile, nine People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels had been spotted around Taiwan.

The ministry said Taiwan had tasked combat air patrol aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities.

In a Monday statement, the ministry said the intrusion of Chinese aircraft posed severe challenges to regional security.

The ministry said that all parties are responsible for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, adding that Beijing’s actions could increase tensions and worsen regional security.

“We call on the Beijing authorities to take responsibility and immediately stop such unilateral destructive actions,” the ministry said.

Taipei last week daily registered dozens of Chinese military aircraft and a handful of vessels around its shores.

Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the self-ruled democracy part of its territory. 

(dpa/NAN)