SpaceWar.com reports: “Taiwan said Thursday it detected 45 Chinese aircraft near the self-ruled island, the highest number this year and a tally that comes a day after Taipei condemned China’s ‘live-fire’ drills off the south.

China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control.

Beijing has increased the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty, which Taipei rejects.

In the 24 hours to 6:00 am (2200 GMT on Wednesday), 45 Chinese aircraft and 14 warships were spotted near Taiwan, Taipei’s defence ministry said in a statement.

It was the highest number of Chinese aircraft detected this year and the most since December 11, an AFP tally of the ministry’s daily figures shows.

Taiwan said Wednesday that China staged a combat drill with aircraft and warships and announced ‘live-fire exercises’ in an area about 40 nautical miles (74 kilometres) off the island’s south, which Taipei condemned as dangerous and a violation of ‘international norms’.

Taiwan’s military responded by sending forces to ‘monitor, alert and respond appropriately’, the ministry said.

Beijing’s foreign ministry declined to comment on Wednesday…”