Of particular concern was the fact that 35 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
The drills, spanning the Taiwan Strait and areas adjacent to Taiwan-controlled islands near China's coast, commenced just days after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's assumption of office.
Days after Taiwan's Lai Ching Te was sworn in island's President, China launched two-day-long military drills surrounding the nation in what it called "punishment" for so-called "separatist acts," reported CNN.
As the Chinese ships entered restricted waters around Taiwan on Thursday, Taiwan's Coast Guard on Thursday drove China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels away and dispatched patrol boats to gather evidence, reported Focus Taiwan.
The Chinese army has been conducting drills in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, and areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.
Taiwan's newly sworn President Lai Ching-te, in a stern warning for China, has called on Beijing to stop intimidating the island nation, over which China continues to make its claim.
As Taiwan's new President-elect, Lai Ching-te's swearing in ceremony draws near, the island's coastguard has ramped up patrols over the weekend amid increasing presence of Chinese vessels, according to Al Jazeera.
In his address at a democracy forum in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Lai in a pre-recorded video said, "I will not rule out dialogue with China on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefits, and dignity," adding that such dialogue should be conducted "with no preconditions."
Underscoring the strategic competition between the US and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the US House Select Committee introduced a bill that will authorise USD 120 million in support for Taiwan's international space and take on China's coercion, reported Focus Taiwan.
The sole ruling party of China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could attempt to disrupt President-elect Lai Ching-te's May 20 inauguration by hacking into websites and electronic billboards and sabotaging the southern power grid, Taiwan News reported.