Taiwan says China bolstering air power along coastline facing island

China is bolstering its air power along the coast facing Taiwan with a permanent deployment of new fighters and drones at expanded air bases, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday in its annual report. China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up its military activities near the island in recent years in response to what Beijing calls "collusion" between Taiwan and the United States and to prevent Taiwan independence. China staged war games around Taiwan in August of last year and again in April, and its forces operate around the island almost daily.