Taiwan has confirmed that China flew 70 aircraft around it in a 10-hour period on Sunday, the second day of Chinese military drills in the area.

Taiwan's defense ministry says it detected 70 Chinese planes nearby, including fighter jets, between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The ministry adds that half of them crossed the median line, which is an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait designed to prevent accidental clashes between Chinese and Taiwanese forces.

This is the second consecutive day that 70 or more Chinese planes were found to be operating around Taiwan. Analysts say China has been seeking to keep Taiwan and the United States in check.

On Saturday, China began three days of what it calls combat readiness patrol and military exercises around Taiwan.

The exercises are seen as a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's recent meeting in the United States with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

State-run China Central Television reports that the army, navy, air force and rocket force, carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets in Taiwan and the surrounding waters.

CCTV also aired what it described as footage of drills, but did not reveal when and where they took place.