Taiwan announced it had detected 32 Chinese warplanes around the island in one day, 20 of which “crossed the middle line of the Taiwan Strait”, the unofficial demarcation line between China and Taiwan, AFP reported.

According to a statement from Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, five more warships were detected operating around the island during the same period.

In response to China’s actions, Taiwan called in “foreign” patrol planes, ships and missile systems to monitor the situation.

China’s actions in the last day are the second largest deployment of forces this year, AFP noted.

In late January and early February, Taiwan detected 33 Chinese fighter jets. The operation came shortly after the election of Taiwan’s new president, an official Beijing disapproves of.

Also in February, 11 Chinese warships were discovered around the island.

The Chinese Communist Party has always viewed Taiwan as part of Chinese territory, which is disputed by the Taipei government, while maintaining its independence. For Beijing, the island just 130 kilometers away has symbolic, strategic and economic importance.

Taiwan, an island of 23 million people east of mainland China, has been governed democratically and independently of Beijing since 1949. But China, which claims the island as its territory, has vowed to eventually “unite” with the country, warning it will also use force if necessary.