"In order to ensure the safety of the waters and airspace during the inauguration ceremony, the Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Defense Command (...) has launched a powerful patrol operation (...) to keep a close eye on suspicious targets," the Taiwanese Coast Guard said in a statement. The agency sent personnel to "patrol around the clock" around three islands in the archipelago: Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu. "The Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Defense Command stated that efforts to ensure national security will not be relaxed during the important celebrations," the same source said. Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te takes office on Monday, at a time of growing diplomatic and military pressure from Beijing. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it detected seven Chinese planes and seven ships near the island in the 24 hours leading up to 6:00 a.m. Sunday (11:00 p.m. Saturday in Lisbon). On the other side of the strait, in the Chinese coastal city of Pingtan, which has a military base, Agence France-Presse journalists saw at least two military helicopters flying over the island this morning. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of Chinese territory, maintaining military pressure on the archipelago with the near-daily dispatch of warplanes, drones and ships. Kinmen has been the scene of a series of confrontations between Chinese and Taiwanese vessels since the January victory of Lai Ching-te, described by Beijing as a "dangerous separatist" who is leading Taiwan down the path of "war and decline". A Chinese speedboat carrying four people capsized near the island on February 14 while being pursued by the Taiwanese Coast Guard. Two people died. Read Also: Taiwan parliamentary delegation visits Taiping to reaffirm sovereignty (Portuguese version)