Taiwan detects 62 Chinese aircraft around island on day two of Beijing's military drills

Taiwan on Friday (May 24) detected 62 Chinese aircraft around it as Beijing warned of war and said it would ramp up countermeasures until "complete reunification" was achieved with the island — a statement that can seen as China's declaration of war.

Taiwan's defence ministry said that Chinese warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan on the second day of exercises, with Beijing saying that the drills were a test of its ability to seize the island.

China started the military exercises on Thursday morning, with Beijing surrounding the self-ruled Taiwan with naval vessels and military aircraft.China vowed that the blood of "independence forces" would flow.

Taiwan considers itself a distinct nation from China, but Beijing claims Taipei as its own territory since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. China says that the island nation will defy the one-nation policy by pushing for formal independence. Beijing even claimed that, if needed, it would use force to unite the two territories.

The drills came three days after Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te was sworn in. Lai has vowed to strengthen Taiwan’s security through the imports of advanced fighters and other technology and strengthen its domestic defence industry.

When Lai took oath, Beijing said that changes in Taiwan's politics do not alter the "fact" that it is part of China. "No matter how the internal political situation in Taiwan changes, it will not change the historical and legal fact that both sides of the strait belong to one China," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

Watch:China holds military drills around Taiwan, releases 3D VR animation of attack

Taipei's defence ministry said on Friday that since 7:14 am (2314 Thursday), it had detected 62 aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers and transport patrol planes around Taiwan.This is the highest number of aircraft seen this year in a 24-hour window.

According to the ministry, among the 62 aircraft, "47 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southern ADIZ (air defence identification zone) to collaborate with 27 naval vessels and coast guard ships in military exercises".

The first day of the drills was dubbed "Joint Sword-2024A". Taipei detected a total of 49 Chinese aircraft around Taiwan on day 1.

'Taiwan independence' provokes us: China

A Chinese military spokesman had said the war games were meant to test the "capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes and control of key territories".

But on Friday, Beijing's defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that Lai "has seriously challenged the one-China principle... pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger".

"Every time 'Taiwan independence' provokes us, we will push our countermeasures one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)