Tensions escalate further in Taiwan, with the Ministry of National Defense announcing in a new report that the armed forces remain alert “just in case”, as China tightens its grip on the island by conducting live-fire drills in its three-day exercises.

Taipei earlier announced that it had detected around Taiwan China’s 11 warships and 70 military aircraft.

This is a simulation of an attack by Chinese forces on Taiwanas a warning after the meeting of the president of Taiwan with the speaker of the US House.

“Air defense units of Taiwan’s armed forces remain alert for any eventuality, firmly maintaining their positions 24/7, showing that we can and will defend our skies. And we will never give up our beliefs,” says Taipei.

The Chinese Army “continues to conduct military exercises around Taiwan,” the ministry said, clarifying that among the aircraft spotted as of 10:00 a.m. (local time; 05:00 Greek time) were fighters and bombers, some of which crossed the median line and entered the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on the 39th.

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent 70 warplanes, including fighter jets, reconnaissance and resupply planes, into Taiwan’s air defense reconnaissance zone on Sunday morning, Taiwan’s defense ministry had announced. According to the statement, 31 planes crossed the median line – the de facto border in the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and China.

Today, China attempted the simulation with its military exercises a “blockade” of Taiwan, according to a statement issued by the Chinese armed forces.

Dozens of aircraft were deployed to enforce an “air blockade” of the territory claimed by Beijing, state-run Chinese television network CCTV also reported.

The Republican congressman and chairman of the congressional committee on Taiwan Mike Gallagher he said “we should take China’s threat very seriously,” adding that “it is obvious that Chinese President Xi Jinping wants to reunite Taiwan with mainland China.”

70 PLA ​​aircraft and 11 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 am (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities. pic.twitter.com/c2GGUMGrpW

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) April 10, 2023

70 PLA ​​aircraft and 11 vessels were detected by 16:00 (UTC+8) April 9th. 35 of the detected aircraft had crossed the northern, central, and southern median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered our southwest ADIZ. pic.twitter.com/PitgcyfjPI

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) April 9, 2023

71 PLA aircraft and 9 vessels were detected by 16:00(UTC+8) on April 8th. 45 of the detected aircraft had crossed the northern, central, and southern median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered our southwest ADIZ. pic.twitter.com/ADpTZaoR0B

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) April 8, 2023