TAIPEI: Taiwan’s defence ministry urged China on Monday to stop “destructive, unilateral action” after reporting a sharp rise in Chinese military activities near the island.

The ministry said that since Sunday it had spotted 103 Chinese military aircraft over the sea, a number it called a “recent high”.

Its map of Chinese activities over the past 24 hours showed fighter jets crossing the median line of the strait which serves as an unofficial barrier between the two sides.

Other aircraft flew south of Taiwan through the Bashi Channel, which separates the island from the Philippines.

China’s activities over the past day have caused “serious challenges” to security in the strait and regionally, the ministry said in an accompanying statement.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2023