The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense announced today, Saturday, that it has detected 33 fighter jets from the Chinese People's Liberation Army around Taiwan in the past 24 hours.

The number represented a new high record in the number of daily air sorties since Taiwan held its democratic presidential and legislative elections on January 13.

The ministry stated that among the 33 Chinese warplanes, 13 crossed the unofficial median line in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from China.

Until recently, both sides mostly respected the median line.

At the same time, six ships belonging to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy were spotted around Taiwan.

Additionally, the ministry mentioned that two Chinese balloons crossed the median line in the strait, then disappeared as they headed towards the northern and southern parts of the island respectively.

Taiwan has assigned combat air patrol aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems the mission to respond to these activities, according to the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and her deputy Lai Ching-te received on Thursday, the day before yesterday, two US Congressmen as the first official US delegation showing support for Taiwan after the elections on January 13.

Democratic Congressman Ami Bera and Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, co-chairs of the Taiwan Caucus in the US Congress, arrived in Taipei last Wednesday for a three-day visit, where they were received by Tsai and her deputy Lai in Taipei.

Tsai expressed thanks to the US Congress for its long-standing support for Taiwan-US relations regardless of party affiliation.

Tsai said that the Taiwan Caucus in Congress plays a very important role in deepening economic and trade relations.

Diaz-Balart pointed to China's interference in Taiwan's elections.

A press release issued by Tsai's office said that the arrival of the bipartisan delegation conveyed a clear message that the United States, regardless of party affiliation, strongly supports Taiwan, its prosperity, and its security.

Vice President Lai Ching-te was elected as Tsai's successor, who could not run again after completing the maximum two terms in office.

Beijing condemned the American delegation's visit.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin in Beijing said the day before yesterday, Thursday, that the United States acted negatively after the elections and thus sent the wrong signal to "Taiwan independence forces."

The ruling Communist Party in China considers Taiwan Chinese territory, although the island with a population of more than 23 million has had an independent government since 1949.