Taiwan says it detected 45 Chinese aircraft in 24 hours, a record this year

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Thursday it had detected 45 Chinese aircraft in a 24-hour period, the highest number since the beginning of the year and a day after Taiwan deployed forces off its coast due to Chinese military exercises. The aircraft were spotted near the island in the 24 hours through 06:00 local time Thursday (2200 GMT Wednesday), according to the ministry's tally released in a statement Thursday.

The day before, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Beijing had conducted "live-fire exercises" without warning in an area some 74 kilometers south of the island. Taiwan had denounced a "flagrant" violation of international norms by China and mobilized its air, land and naval forces in response. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that China had set up an exercise area for "shooting training."

China has increased the deployment of fighter jets and warships around the island in recent years, which it considers part of its territory. Beijing has not ruled out using force to take control. The dispute between Beijing and Taipei dates back to the civil war between Mao Zedong's communist fighters and Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces, who fled to Taiwan in 1949 after their defeat.