Taiwan reported a record detection of 153 Chinese military aircraft amid drills around the island, dubbed 'Joint Sword-2024B'. China aimed the drill as a response to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te’s speech.

Taiwan's defence ministry on Tuesday detailed the surge in Chinese warplane activity around the island during war games the previous day, saying it had detected a record 153 Chinese military aircraft.

The Pentagon on Monday strongly criticized Chinese military war games around Taiwan, calling them destabilizing. "This military pressure operation is irresponsible, disproportionate, and destabilizing,

China launched military exercises around Taiwan as part of what it called a 'stern warning' against 'separatist acts by Taiwan independent forces.'

The Chinese military said the exercises, which will simulate strikes on land and at sea, would serve as “a stern warning” to “Taiwan independence forces.”

Taiwan's defense ministry says China used 125 military aircraft in exercises aimed at Taiwan, a record for a single day

China launched a large military drill surrounding Taiwan to warn against independence. NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer reports on the growing tensions.