China says it carried out military exercises in waters and airspace around Taiwan on Saturday.

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army announced that it staged patrols and joint drills by its navy and air forces. The command covers the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

The military said the exercises tested the coordination of troops and their combat capabilities to seize control of airspace and waters off northern and southwestern Taiwan.

The command released footage of drills, with vessels underway and aircraft taking off, but did not say when and where it was shot.

Taiwan's defense ministry said on Saturday that it had detected 42 Chinese aircraft, including fighter jets, around Taiwan, and 26 of them had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The ministry said it had also detected eight Chinese naval vessels taking part in the activity.

The ministry said it deployed aircraft and vessels, and activated land-based missile systems to monitor the situation.

China's military drills came after Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te recently stopped over in the United States on his way to and from Paraguay. Beijing criticizes Lai as a "separatist."

The military said the exercises were a serious warning against "Taiwan independence separatist" forces colluding with external forces.