Taiwan's Air Force scrambled for a second day in a row on Monday to intercept Chinese jets that approached the island claimed by Beijing as its own, as tensions between the two took on a potentially dangerous military dimension.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-aircraft-carrier-sails-through-taiwan-strait-again-270359">Also Read: China aircraft carrier sails through Taiwan Strait again</a>

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said Chinese jets, accompanying H-6 bombers, briefly crossed an unofficial mid-line in the Taiwan Strait that separates the two, prompting its Air Force to rush to intercept and give verbal warnings to leave.

The Chinese aircraft then withdrew to the western side of the line, the ministry added, without identifying the jets.

The H-6s were on a training mission in the Pacific having passed through the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan from the Philippines, the ministry added and shared a picture of a Taiwan F-16 accompanying one of the H-6 bombers.

China has been flying what it calls "island encirclement" drills on-off since 2016 when Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen first took office. Beijing believes Tsai, who won re-election last month, wishes to push the island's formal independence.

Tsai says Taiwan is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name.

On Sunday too, Chinese jets, including J-11 fighters, flew into the Bashi Channel then out into the Pacific before heading back to base via the Miyako Strait, located between Japan's islands of Miyako and Okinawa, to the northeast of Taiwan.

According to Taiwan's official Central News Agency, the F-16s scrambled on Sunday carried live missiles.

There was no immediate comment from China on Monday's incident. This is only the second time since 2016 that Taiwan has said that Chinese jets had crossed the strait's median line. Their military aircraft tend to keep to their own sides.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office, though, urged Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) "not to play with fire".

The DPP have been "adopting a stance that increases cross-strait confrontation, intensifying new moves for Taiwan-U.S. collusion, using the opportunity to seek independence and openly carrying out dangerous provocations", it added.

China's Eastern Theatre Command described Sunday's fly-by of military's combat ready patrol as a "completely legitimate and necessary action aimed at the current situation in the Taiwan Strait and safeguarding national sovereignty".

The latest fly-bys came as Taiwan's vice-president elect, William Lai, was returning from a visit to Washington, where he attended the high-profile National Prayer Breakfast, at which US&nbsp;President Donald Trump spoke. China denounced Lai's trip.

Washington is Taipei's most important backer and arms supplier, despite the absence of official diplomatic ties.

China says Taiwan is the most sensitive issue in its relations with the United States.

Relations between the Taipei and Beijing have further soured recently over the coronavirus outbreak, with Taiwan accusing China of preventing the island from accessing full information from the World Health Organization or attending its meetings.

China should focus on controlling the spread of the virus, rather than threatening Taiwan, Tsai said on Monday.

Taiwan's China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said the island's 23 million people would not bow down to threats.

"In recent years, Communist aircraft and warships have frequented the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait and attempted to use arms to force unification," it said.

"Various provocative acts have seriously damaged the status quo of the Taiwan Strait and have increased regional tensions."

Taiwan's Air Force scrambled for a second day in a row on Monday to intercept Chinese jets that approached the island claimed by Beijing as its own, as tensions between the two took on a potentially dangerous military dimension.

Taiwan's Air Force scrambled for a second day in a row on Monday to intercept Chinese jets that approached the island claimed by Beijing as its own, as tensions between the two took on a potentially dangerous military dimension. Also Read: China aircraft carrier sails through Taiwan Strait again Taiwan's Defence Ministry said Chinese jets, accompanying H-6 bombers, briefly crossed an unofficial mid-line in the Taiwan Strait that separates the two, prompting its Air Force to rush to intercept and give verbal warnings to leave. The Chinese aircraft then withdrew to the western side of the line, the ministry added, without identifying the jets. The H-6s were on a training mission in the Pacific having passed through the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan from the Philippines, the ministry added and shared a picture of a Taiwan F-16 accompanying one of the H-6 bombers. China has been flying what it calls "island encirclement" drills on-off since 2016 when Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen first took office. Beijing believes Tsai, who won re-election last month, wishes to push the island's formal independence. Tsai says Taiwan is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name. On Sunday too, Chinese jets, including J-11 fighters, flew into the Bashi Channel then out into the Pacific before heading back to base via the Miyako Strait, located between Japan's islands of Miyako and Okinawa, to the northeast of Taiwan. According to Taiwan's official Central News Agency, the F-16s scrambled on Sunday carried live missiles. There was no immediate comment from China on Monday's incident. This is only the second time since 2016 that Taiwan has said that Chinese jets had crossed the strait's median line. Their military aircraft tend to keep to their own sides. China's Taiwan Affairs Office, though, urged Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) "not to play with fire". The DPP have been "adopting a stance that increases cross-strait confrontation, intensifying new moves for Taiwan-U.S. collusion, using the opportunity to seek independence and openly carrying out dangerous provocations", it added. China's Eastern Theatre Command described Sunday's fly-by of military's combat ready patrol as a "completely legitimate and necessary action aimed at the current situation in the Taiwan Strait and safeguarding national sovereignty". The latest fly-bys came as Taiwan's vice-president elect, William Lai, was returning from a visit to Washington, where he attended the high-profile National Prayer Breakfast, at which US President Donald Trump spoke. China denounced Lai's trip. Washington is Taipei's most important backer and arms supplier, despite the absence of official diplomatic ties. China says Taiwan is the most sensitive issue in its relations with the United States. Relations between the Taipei and Beijing have further soured recently over the coronavirus outbreak, with Taiwan accusing China of preventing the island from accessing full information from the World Health Organization or attending its meetings. China should focus on controlling the spread of the virus, rather than threatening Taiwan, Tsai said on Monday. Taiwan's China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said the island's 23 million people would not bow down to threats. "In recent years, Communist aircraft and warships have frequented the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait and attempted to use arms to force unification," it said. "Various provocative acts have seriously damaged the status quo of the Taiwan Strait and have increased regional tensions."

Taiwan scrambles F-16 jets to intercept Chinese bombers

Taipei hit out at China on Sunday for what it said was a "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/chinas-taiwan-conundrum-new-year-old-challenges-189496">reckless and provocative</a>" incursion by two fighter jets across a largely respected line dividing the two sides in the Taiwan Strait.

The Defence Ministry said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-taiwan-china-relations-since-1949-188037">Taiwan</a> scrambled its own aircraft on Sunday morning and broadcast warnings after two J-11 fighter jets crossed over the "median line" within the waters that separate the island from the mainland.

"At 11 am, March 31, 2 PLAAF J-11 jets violated the long-held tacit agreement by crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter.

"It was an intentional, reckless and provocative action. We've informed regional partners and condemn China for such behavior," the ministry added.

China has ramped up the number of fighter and warship crossings near Taiwan or through the straits in recent years, rattling nerves on the island at a time when relations are at a low point.

But it is highly unusual for them to cross the so-called median line, a widely agreed upon boundary that passes through the middle of the straits.

Taiwanese media said the last time Chinese jets had crossed the line was in 2011.&nbsp;

That incident was portrayed by both sides as an inadvertent mistake by two jets responding to a nearby US spy plane.

But on Sunday Taipei described the latest incursion as a deliberate act.&nbsp;

Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang called the flights "provocative and damaging the cross-straits status quo".

The flights come a week after the US sailed a destroyer and a coastguard ship through the Taiwan Strait, angering Beijing.

Although the straits are an international waterway China often hits out when US or other western navy ships pass through them.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

Washington diplomatically recognises China over Taiwan but remains the island's chief military ally and arms supplier.

Earlier this month Taiwan said it had made a formal request to the US for new fighter jets.

Since 2002, the US has repeatedly denied such requests, fearing a possible backlash from Beijing.

But in that time China has massively increased spending on its armed forces, including highly advanced fifth-generation jet fighters.

That has left Taiwan with an ageing airforce that analysts say is outgunned and in desperate need of an upgrade.

China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since the Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including staging a series of military exercises near the island.

She will be fighting for reelection in January 2020.&nbsp;

Last week Tsai made a brief stop in Hawaii to deliver a speech, prompting China to lodge an official protest with Washington.&nbsp;

Taipei hit out at China on Sunday for what it said was a "reckless and provocative" incursion by two fighter jets across a largely respected line dividing the two sides in the Taiwan Strait.

Taipei hit out at China on Sunday for what it said was a "reckless and provocative" incursion by two fighter jets across a largely respected line dividing the two sides in the Taiwan Strait. The Defence Ministry said Taiwan scrambled its own aircraft on Sunday morning and broadcast warnings after two J-11 fighter jets crossed over the "median line" within the waters that separate the island from the mainland. "At 11 am, March 31, 2 PLAAF J-11 jets violated the long-held tacit agreement by crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter. "It was an intentional, reckless and provocative action. We've informed regional partners and condemn China for such behavior," the ministry added. China has ramped up the number of fighter and warship crossings near Taiwan or through the straits in recent years, rattling nerves on the island at a time when relations are at a low point. But it is highly unusual for them to cross the so-called median line, a widely agreed upon boundary that passes through the middle of the straits. Taiwanese media said the last time Chinese jets had crossed the line was in 2011. That incident was portrayed by both sides as an inadvertent mistake by two jets responding to a nearby US spy plane. But on Sunday Taipei described the latest incursion as a deliberate act. Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang called the flights "provocative and damaging the cross-straits status quo". The flights come a week after the US sailed a destroyer and a coastguard ship through the Taiwan Strait, angering Beijing. Although the straits are an international waterway China often hits out when US or other western navy ships pass through them. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification, even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949. Washington diplomatically recognises China over Taiwan but remains the island's chief military ally and arms supplier. Earlier this month Taiwan said it had made a formal request to the US for new fighter jets. Since 2002, the US has repeatedly denied such requests, fearing a possible backlash from Beijing. But in that time China has massively increased spending on its armed forces, including highly advanced fifth-generation jet fighters. That has left Taiwan with an ageing airforce that analysts say is outgunned and in desperate need of an upgrade. China has significantly stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan since the Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, including staging a series of military exercises near the island. She will be fighting for reelection in January 2020. Last week Tsai made a brief stop in Hawaii to deliver a speech, prompting China to lodge an official protest with Washington.

Taiwan blasts China for 'reckless' fighter jet incursion

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Taiwan scrambles F-16 jets to intercept Chinese bombers

Taiwan blasts China for 'reckless' fighter jet incursion