By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Taiwan detected one hundred and fifty-three(153) aircraft surrounding its territory as China carried out massive military exercises, according to the self-ruled island’s Defence Ministry, Aljazeera reported Tuesday morning.

The tension comes as the United States(US) conducts its own military drill in Philippines, an exercise allegedly meant to protect Philippine and Taiwan from China’s invasion.

“The “surge in warplane activity” saw a record number of aircraft spotted in the 25 hours to 6am on Tuesday (22:00 GMT, Monday), the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense said in a statement. 

Aljazeera further reported that, China’s war games have once more raised tensions with the island and across the region,it noted.

“Beijing deployed fighter jets, drones, warships and coastguard ships to encircle Taiwan on Monday. Taipei said it responded by dispatching “appropriate forces” and placing its outlying islands on heightened alert.The defence ministry said 90 of the Chinese aircraft were spotted within Taiwan’s air defence identification zone”, reads the report in part.

It has been reported that, the U.S. warned China against invading Taiwan and conducting the military exercises in Taiwan territory, an Island with diplomatic ties with eSwatini.