Taiwan's defense ministry has announced that China's military set up a zone for shooting training in an area near Taiwan without prior notification. The ministry condemned the move as a danger to the safety of international flights and shipping.



The defense ministry said that it had detected 32 Chinese military aircraft and drones operating in an area near Taiwan on Wednesday morning. Some of the aircraft conducted a joint combat readiness drill with Chinese warships.



Ministry officials said that the Chinese military informed them through a radio transmission that it had set up a zone for shooting exercises in the waters about 70 kilometers off the coast of Kaohsiung and Pingtung, without prior warning.



The defense ministry condemned the Chinese move as a blatant provocation to regional security and stability as well as a violation of international norms.



Last week, Australia said Chinese military drills conducted in international waters between Australia and New Zealand forced commercial airlines to reroute.