TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense tracked 130 Chinese military aircraft, 14 naval vessels, and eight official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday and 6 a.m. on Tuesday. 

Ninety of the 130 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND. Taiwan also tracked one Chinese balloon to the north of the country. 

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

China began live-fire drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, the second day of the PLA’s biggest-ever war games around the nation, according to Reuters. The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said the exercises would take place in the sea and airspace in five locations around the nation until 6 p.m. 

China’s Maritime Safety Administration on Monday listed an additional two areas where live-fire actions would occur. This makes “Justice Mission 2025” the largest Chinese drills to date by coverage and in areas closer to Taiwan than prior exercises, Reuters said. 

A Taiwan security official told Reuters the Chinese exercises were a blatant provocation. “As one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, they seek to reshape the international order according to their own agenda,” the official said to Reuters.   

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 406 times and ships 236 times.