Taiwan accused Beijing of bullying and damaging regional peace Saturday after Chinese fighter jets and bombers made their largest ever incursion into the island's air defence zone.

Beijing marked its National Day on Friday with its biggest aerial show of force against Taiwan to date, buzzing the self-ruled democratic island with 38 warplanes, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers.

Democratic Taiwan's 23 million people live under the constant threat of invasion by China which views the island as its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

Under President Xi Jinping, Chinese warplanes are crossing into Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on a near daily basis.

But Friday's incursion sparked a particularly sharp rebuke from Taipei.

"China has been bellicose and damaging regional peace while engaging in many bullying acts," Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters Saturday.

"It's evident that the world, the international community, rejects such behaviours by China more and more."

Taiwan's defence ministry said it scrambled its aircraft to broadcast warnings after 22 fighters, two bombers and one anti-submarine aircraft entered the island's southwest ADIZ on Friday.

A second batch of 13 jets then crossed into Taiwan's ADIZ later on Friday, in a rare night incursion, bringing the total to a record 38, according to the ministry.

The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace but includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own air defence identification zone and even includes some of mainland China.

Rising tensions

Mass incursions used to be rare.&nbsp;

But in the last two years Beijing has begun sending large sorties into Taiwan's ADIZ to signal dissatisfaction at key moments -- and to keep Taipei's ageing fighter fleet regularly stressed.&nbsp;

Last week 24 Chinese warplanes flew into the area after Taiwan applied to join a major trans-Pacific trade pact.

Friday's show of force came the same week Beijing accused Britain of "evil attentions" after it sent a frigate to sail through the Taiwan Strait.

China claims the strait as its own waterway, along with most of the disputed South China Sea. Most other nations view them as international waters open to all.&nbsp;

Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taipei since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who views the island as "already independent" and not part of a "one China".

Last year, Chinese military jets made a record 380 incursions into Taiwan's defence zone, and the number of breaches for the first nine months of this year has already exceeded 500.

The previous single-day record was on June 15 when 28 jets breached Taiwan's ADIZ.

Xi has described Taiwan becoming part of the mainland as "inevitable".

US military officials have begun to talk openly about fears that China could consider the previously unthinkable and invade.

Protection of Taiwan has become a rare bipartisan issue in Washington and a growing number of Western nations have begun joining the United States in "freedom of navigation" exercises to push back on China's claims to the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Britain sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait on Monday for the first time since 2008.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command accused Britain of acting out of "evil intentions to sabotage peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait".

Alexander Huang, associate professor at Tamkang University in Taipei said he believed the latest aerial incursion was not just about sending a message to Taiwan.

"There's three other carrier attack groups in the region, two American and one British," he told AFP.

"China is sending a political message to the US and UK on her national day: Don't mess around in my area."

Canadian, French and Australian warships have all made voyages through the Taiwan Strait in recent years, sparking protests from China.

Taiwan accused Beijing of bullying and damaging regional peace Saturday after Chinese fighter jets and bombers made their largest ever incursion into the island's air defence zone.

Taiwan accused Beijing of bullying and damaging regional peace Saturday after Chinese fighter jets and bombers made their largest ever incursion into the island's air defence zone. Beijing marked its National Day on Friday with its biggest aerial show of force against Taiwan to date, buzzing the self-ruled democratic island with 38 warplanes, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers. Democratic Taiwan's 23 million people live under the constant threat of invasion by China which views the island as its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary. Under President Xi Jinping, Chinese warplanes are crossing into Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on a near daily basis. But Friday's incursion sparked a particularly sharp rebuke from Taipei. "China has been bellicose and damaging regional peace while engaging in many bullying acts," Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters Saturday. "It's evident that the world, the international community, rejects such behaviours by China more and more." Taiwan's defence ministry said it scrambled its aircraft to broadcast warnings after 22 fighters, two bombers and one anti-submarine aircraft entered the island's southwest ADIZ on Friday. A second batch of 13 jets then crossed into Taiwan's ADIZ later on Friday, in a rare night incursion, bringing the total to a record 38, according to the ministry. The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace but includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own air defence identification zone and even includes some of mainland China. Rising tensions Mass incursions used to be rare. But in the last two years Beijing has begun sending large sorties into Taiwan's ADIZ to signal dissatisfaction at key moments -- and to keep Taipei's ageing fighter fleet regularly stressed. Last week 24 Chinese warplanes flew into the area after Taiwan applied to join a major trans-Pacific trade pact. Friday's show of force came the same week Beijing accused Britain of "evil attentions" after it sent a frigate to sail through the Taiwan Strait. China claims the strait as its own waterway, along with most of the disputed South China Sea. Most other nations view them as international waters open to all. Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taipei since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who views the island as "already independent" and not part of a "one China". Last year, Chinese military jets made a record 380 incursions into Taiwan's defence zone, and the number of breaches for the first nine months of this year has already exceeded 500. The previous single-day record was on June 15 when 28 jets breached Taiwan's ADIZ. Xi has described Taiwan becoming part of the mainland as "inevitable". US military officials have begun to talk openly about fears that China could consider the previously unthinkable and invade. Protection of Taiwan has become a rare bipartisan issue in Washington and a growing number of Western nations have begun joining the United States in "freedom of navigation" exercises to push back on China's claims to the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Britain sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait on Monday for the first time since 2008. The Chinese People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command accused Britain of acting out of "evil intentions to sabotage peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait". Alexander Huang, associate professor at Tamkang University in Taipei said he believed the latest aerial incursion was not just about sending a message to Taiwan. "There's three other carrier attack groups in the region, two American and one British," he told AFP. "China is sending a political message to the US and UK on her national day: Don't mess around in my area." Canadian, French and Australian warships have all made voyages through the Taiwan Strait in recent years, sparking protests from China.

Taiwan rebukes China over record fighter jet incursion

U.S. house rebukes Trump & Netanyahu. Democrats endorse a two-state solution.

U.S. house rebukes Trump & Netanyahu

Thailand`s junta leader swatted away critics, vowing to stay in power despite &quot;people&#39;s hatred&quot; for him, &nbsp;as tensions simmered before a referendum which the military says will pave the way for elections.&nbsp; 
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha seized power two years ago from the elected government when he was army chief, promising to heal a bitter decade-long political divide.&nbsp; 
But his regime has curbed free speech, outlawed political activities and penned a new charter designed to entrench the military`s role in government.&nbsp; 
&quot;I won`t go anywhere as long as the country is not at peace and in order. I won`t leave, despite how much you hate me,&quot; Prayut, who is renowned for his often irate outbursts, said in remarks to a forum in Bangkok.&nbsp; 
While he was speaking Wednesday morning a Thai folk singer was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for royal defamation -- one of several harsh laws the junta has used to curb critics, especially on the Internet.&nbsp; 
The singer, known by his stage name Tom Dundee, was convicted for comments he made in a 2013 speech at a political rally organised by supporters of the now-ousted government. 
Prayut also defended the sweeping powers granted to him as junta chief, saying &quot;there are still some politicians expressing their opinions&quot;.&nbsp; 
On the surface the political climate has calmed significantly under the junta, following years of competing street protests that often turned deadly.&nbsp; 
But disquiet is returning before an August referendum on the charter, despite a new law which punishes campaigning in the run-up to the vote with up to 10 years in prison.&nbsp; 
The junta has promised elections will go ahead in 2017 but has not clarified what will happen if the charter is rejected in the referendum, raising fears the timetable will slip once again.&nbsp; 
Prayut`s speech comes after the junta appeared to be loosening its grip by ending travel restrictions on many former politicians and promising to move its &quot;attitude adjustment&quot; sessions -- a common punishment for critics -- from military camps to government buildings and police stations.&nbsp; 
Critics say the regime is bent on dismantling the powerful political network of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whose parties have long dominated the polls but are reviled by Bangkok`s military-allied elite.&nbsp; 
Analysts say the political troubles are exacerbated by the failing health of the 88-year-old monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej as competing elites jostle for power before the succession.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha had seized power two years ago from the elected government when he was the army chief, promising to heal a bitter decade-long political divide

Thailand`s junta leader swatted away critics, vowing to stay in power despite "people's hatred" for him, as tensions simmered before a referendum which the military says will pave the way for elections. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha seized power two years ago from the elected government when he was army chief, promising to heal a bitter decade-long political divide. But his regime has curbed free speech, outlawed political activities and penned a new charter designed to entrench the military`s role in government. "I won`t go anywhere as long as the country is not at peace and in order. I won`t leave, despite how much you hate me," Prayut, who is renowned for his often irate outbursts, said in remarks to a forum in Bangkok. While he was speaking Wednesday morning a Thai folk singer was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for royal defamation -- one of several harsh laws the junta has used to curb critics, especially on the Internet. The singer, known by his stage name Tom Dundee, was convicted for comments he made in a 2013 speech at a political rally organised by supporters of the now-ousted government. Prayut also defended the sweeping powers granted to him as junta chief, saying "there are still some politicians expressing their opinions". On the surface the political climate has calmed significantly under the junta, following years of competing street protests that often turned deadly. But disquiet is returning before an August referendum on the charter, despite a new law which punishes campaigning in the run-up to the vote with up to 10 years in prison. The junta has promised elections will go ahead in 2017 but has not clarified what will happen if the charter is rejected in the referendum, raising fears the timetable will slip once again. Prayut`s speech comes after the junta appeared to be loosening its grip by ending travel restrictions on many former politicians and promising to move its "attitude adjustment" sessions -- a common punishment for critics -- from military camps to government buildings and police stations. Critics say the regime is bent on dismantling the powerful political network of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whose parties have long dominated the polls but are reviled by Bangkok`s military-allied elite. Analysts say the political troubles are exacerbated by the failing health of the 88-year-old monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej as competing elites jostle for power before the succession.

Thailand's junta leader says he will stay in power despite 'people's hatred' for him

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