The official made the comment while hosting a group of foreign and local media reporters at an Air Force missile base in Sanzhi Township, Taipei County.

The media was visiting the military base at the invitation of the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

Locally-developed surface-to-air Tien Kung (Sky Bow) I and II missiles, with a range capable of reaching 300km away to southeastern China’s Fujian province, are deployed at the facility, according to the Anti-air Artillery Headquarters.

The missiles are controlled by a computerized command unit composed of tracking and phased array radars, which are able to monitor up to 104 planes simultaneously.

In a matter of minutes, the personnel at the base can launch tens of missiles from mobile or underground launchers.

In response to the visitors’ inquiries, Lt. Gen. Liu Chieh-tsen, director general of the Political Warfare Office, indicated that Beijing has performed more frequent drills in their air space in recent years after obtaining new types of fighter jets from Russia, including Sukhoi 30 and J10 fighters.

Following the rise in training operations, Chinese military pilots were found to have improved in terms of battle skill and mobility, Liu went on.

He then noted that because of the frequent military activities, Taiwan’s military has aimed to reinforce Air Force training programs and purchase upgraded F-16 C/D fighters from the United States.

It was the first time the Sanzhi base has ever been opened to the media.