Taipei scrambled jets and deployed naval patrols in response to multiple Chinese military "craft" that were detected close to the island on Saturday.

The latest incident comes as China is conducting its biggest-ever military exercises in Taiwan Strait, in retaliation to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting the self-ruled island on Wednesday.

The Taiwanese military described China's Saturday deployment as "a possible simulated attack."

"Multiple batches of Communist planes and ships conducting activities around the Taiwan Strait, some of which crossed the median line," Taiwan's defense ministry said in a statement on Saturday, referring to an unofficial buffer between the two governments.

Taiwan's army said it broadcast a warning and deployed air and sea reconnaissance patrols. It also put shore-based missiles on stand-by.

Chinese incursions have become more common since 2020, when Beijing declared it does not recognize the demarcation line.

China's military drills in the region are expected to continue until Sunday.

US slams 'disproportionate' response

During a visit to the Philippines, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended Pelosi's trip as "peaceful" and called the subsequent Chinese military drills "totally disproportionate."

Blinken also said he pledged to maintain communication with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cambodia.

"So let me be clear, the United States doesn't believe that it's in the interest of Taiwan, the region, or our own national security to escalate the situation," he added.

"We'll keep our channels of communication with China open, with the intent of avoiding escalation due to misunderstanding or miscommunication."

A White House spokesperson said Beijing's military drills are "provocative, irresponsible, and raise the risk of miscalculation." The officlal said the exercises "are also at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is what the world expects."   

Taiwanese defense official found dead

On Saturday, Taiwanese state media also reported that an on official in charge of missile development had been found dead in his hotel room.

Ou Yang Li-hsing, deputy head of the military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, was in the southern city of Pingtung on a work trip.

The institute said the official had died of heart failure.

"Forensic examination found that the cause of death was myocardial infarction and angina pectoris," his employer said on Saturday morning.

Ou Yang had recently taken the position to supervise missile projects as the country looks to double its annual production this year.

zc/dj (AFP, Reuters)