China is sending message with presence of fleet and aircraft – says Taiwan

Taiwanese Mirage 2000 fighter jets sit on the tarmac at an airbase in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)

China’s secretive military appears to be up to something around Taiwan, but it is unclear whether it is a formal military drill.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that it has detected a dozen Chinese naval ships and 47 military planes in the past 24 hours but no live-fire activity as in previous military exercises.