Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited the province directly across from Taiwan after the military he leads carried out more major exercises intended to ramp up pressure on the government in Taipei.

China flew a record number of fighter jets and other warplanes around Taiwan during its large-scale military drills on Monday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.

The Chinese military said the exercises, which will simulate strikes on land and at sea, would serve as “a stern warning” to “Taiwan independence forces.”