China has announced that it began three days of combat-readiness patrols and military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday.

The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command said the patrols and drills will take place in waters and airspace around the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of Taiwan.

The command said the army, navy and air force, as well as the rocket force, quickly deployed to the designated drill zones, after receiving orders.

It said the drills on Saturday were focused on checking the military's capabilities of gaining air and sea control as well as information warfare strength, and moving troops to encircle and close in on Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's defense ministry said it had detected 42 Chinese military aircraft as of Saturday morning, with many of them crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entering Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone. The ministry said eight Chinese vessels were also spotted.

The drills are seen as a response to Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen's recent meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The Eastern Theater Command said the operations serve as a stern warning against what it calls "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' collusion with external forces and provocations.

Last year, China conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan in reaction to a visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.