TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 25 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and four official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (Oct. 13) and 8 a.m. on Monday. 

Of the 25 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 16 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity. So far this month China has sent 175 military aircraft and 85 ships around Taiwan.

Meanwhile, China’s Eastern Theater Command on Monday announced the “Joint Sword-2024B” military drills were being launched in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, Reuters reported.

China published a map with nine areas around Taiwan where the exercises were taking place, including two off the country’s east coast, three on the west coast, one to the north, and three around Taiwan’s islands close to the Chinese coast, according to Reuters. 

The MND said it had dispatched its own forces in response to the Chinese military exercises.