Taiwan sent its own forces to monitor, the ministry said.
This month, Taiwan has reported at least three other similar large-scale sorties by China’s airforce, which Beijing has not commented on.
China says its activities near Taiwan are aimed at preventing “collusion” between Taiwan separatists and the United States, and protecting China’s territorial integrity.
Taiwan’s government, which has repeatedly offered talks with China, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has denounced as a separatist, is the frontrunner to be Taiwan’s next president, according to opinion polls.
Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang, traditionally supports close ties with Beijing, and has pledged to reopen dialogue with China if it wins the election.