Taiwan has dispatched its own aircraft and ships, and deployed land-based missile systems, in response to the drills, the ministry said.

The ministry has been "closely monitoring the movements of the Chinese Shandong aircraft carrier group and other aircraft and vessels that entered Taiwan's response zone yesterday", it said in a statement.

Taiwan detected 19 Chinese warships around the island in the 24 hours to 6:00 am (2200 GMT Monday), the ministry said in a separate statement.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has refused to rule out the use of force to bring the island under its control.

There have been several rounds of drills staged by China since Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te took office in May 2024.

Chinese leaders loathe Lai, who they have branded a "separatist". Lai last month called China a "foreign hostile force".