taipei china air force carry 16 round exercise close taiwan last year taiwan defense ministry say tuesday warn china military threat grow day china consider self-ruled democratic taiwan sacred territory never renounce use force bring view wayward province chinese control china take increasingly hostile stance towards taiwan since tsai ing-wen island pro-independence democratic progressive party presidential elections last year beijing suspect push island formal independence red line china tsai say want peace china defend taiwan security way life lengthy report taiwan defense ministry list number time china air force drill near island since end october last year aircraft involve include bombers advance fighter jet 16 drill 15 around taiwan fly bashi channel separate taiwan philippines near japan miyako island north taiwan drill bashi channel pacific china repeatedly say drill routine taiwan defense ministry say china island big security threat chinese military strength continue grow rapidly say massive developments military reform combine operations weapons development production build overseas military base military exercise military threat towards us grow daily chinese missiles already cover taiwan china improve abilities long-range anti-ship missiles build ability resist foreign force ministry add tensions rise early month senior chinese diplomat threaten china would invade taiwan u.s. warships make port visit taiwan well equip mostly u.s.-made weapons press washington sell advance equipment unite state bind law provide taiwan mean defend china distaste proudly democratic taiwan show interest run autocratic china taiwan government accuse beijing understand democracy criticize taipei taiwan say chinese air force exercise near island 16 time last year