Taiwan’s Defence Ministry on Friday said it had registered 49 Chinese warplanes in Taiwan’s airspace within 24 hours, the highest number of Chinese daily sorties so far this year. Among them, 35 Chinese military aircraft were spotted crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. In addition, the ministry said it had detected 19 Chinese navy vessels and seven Chinese coast guard ships operating around Taiwan on Thursday. China on Thursday launched a two-day major military exercise around Taiwan, apparently to simulate a blockade around the island. Taiwan’s Air Force on Friday also released pho…