Taiwan on Tuesday said that Chinese jets had&nbsp;made a record 380 incursions into its&nbsp;defence zone last year, warning&nbsp;tensions were now at their highest since the mid-1990s.

Taiwan has spent almost $900 million last&nbsp;year on scrambling its air force against Chinese incursions, the island’s defence minister said on earlier, describing the pressure they are facing as “great”.

In the past few weeks, Chinese fighter jets have crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, which normally serves as an unofficial buffer zone, and flown multiple missions into Taiwan’s southwestern air defence identification zone.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-is-trying-to-wear-out-taiwans-air-force-by-incursions-says-defence-minister-334046">China is trying to wear out Taiwan's Air Force by incursions, says defence minister</a>

Speaking at parliament, Taiwan Defence Minister Yen De-fa said to the air force had scrambled 2,972 times against Chinese aircraft in 2020&nbsp;at a cost of T$25.5 billion ($886.49 million).

Democratic and self-ruled Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by authoritarian China, which views the island as its own territory and has vowed to seize it one day, by force if necessary.

Beijing's animosity has increased dramatically since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen won election in 2016, as she rejects the idea that the island is part of "one China".

But the sabre-rattling reached new peaks last year as Beijing sent jets, bombers and surveillance planes into Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) at an unprecedented rate.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-announces-another-arms-sale-to-taiwan-china-threatens-countermeasures-348352">Trump administration announces another arms sale to Taiwan; China threatens 'countermeasures'</a>

Defence ministry spokesman Shih Shun-wen said, "The 380 incursions into our southwest ADIZ in 2020 are a lot more frequent than the past."

Chinese aircraft targeted the area "to test our military's response, to exert pressure on our aerial defence and to squeeze the aerial space for our activities", he added.

The figures came as the military-affiliated Institute for National Defence and Security Research warned in an annual report on the People's Liberation Army that "the Chinese military threat was the highest since the 1996 missile crisis in Taiwan Strait".&nbsp;

That year Beijing fired missiles into the strait in a bid to deter voters in the island's first democratic presidential election, prompting Washington to send warships to the area.&nbsp;

Jeremy Hung, a co-author of the report, said Chinese jets flew closer to Taiwan and frequently into its defence zone on at least 110 days last year.

This compared with just six long-distance training missions around Taiwan in 2016, and 20 in 2017.

Beijing's increased military actions were meant as "a warning to Taiwan not to cross the red line" amid warming relations with the United States, Hung said.

Chinese jets also crossed over the so-called "median line" of the Taiwan Strait during two high-level visits by US officials.

The median line is unofficial but, until now, largely adhered to border running down the narrow strait separating Taiwan from the mainland.&nbsp;

Last year a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman declared the line did not exist.

Beijing has also been angered by the increasingly warm ties Taiwan built with Washington during outgoing President Donald Trump's tenure.&nbsp;

On top of the high-level visits, his administration approved some $18 billion worth of arms sales to Taipei, while US warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait 13 times last year, according to local media.

Taiwan on Tuesday said that Chinese jets had made a record 380 incursions into its defence zone last year, warning tensions were now at their highest since the mid-1990s.

Taiwan on Tuesday said that Chinese jets had made a record 380 incursions into its defence zone last year, warning tensions were now at their highest since the mid-1990s. Taiwan has spent almost $900 million last year on scrambling its air force against Chinese incursions, the island’s defence minister said on earlier, describing the pressure they are facing as “great”. In the past few weeks, Chinese fighter jets have crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, which normally serves as an unofficial buffer zone, and flown multiple missions into Taiwan’s southwestern air defence identification zone. Also read: China is trying to wear out Taiwan's Air Force by incursions, says defence minister Speaking at parliament, Taiwan Defence Minister Yen De-fa said to the air force had scrambled 2,972 times against Chinese aircraft in 2020 at a cost of T$25.5 billion ($886.49 million). Democratic and self-ruled Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by authoritarian China, which views the island as its own territory and has vowed to seize it one day, by force if necessary. Beijing's animosity has increased dramatically since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen won election in 2016, as she rejects the idea that the island is part of "one China". But the sabre-rattling reached new peaks last year as Beijing sent jets, bombers and surveillance planes into Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) at an unprecedented rate. Also read| Trump administration announces another arms sale to Taiwan; China threatens 'countermeasures' Defence ministry spokesman Shih Shun-wen said, "The 380 incursions into our southwest ADIZ in 2020 are a lot more frequent than the past." Chinese aircraft targeted the area "to test our military's response, to exert pressure on our aerial defence and to squeeze the aerial space for our activities", he added. The figures came as the military-affiliated Institute for National Defence and Security Research warned in an annual report on the People's Liberation Army that "the Chinese military threat was the highest since the 1996 missile crisis in Taiwan Strait". That year Beijing fired missiles into the strait in a bid to deter voters in the island's first democratic presidential election, prompting Washington to send warships to the area. Jeremy Hung, a co-author of the report, said Chinese jets flew closer to Taiwan and frequently into its defence zone on at least 110 days last year. This compared with just six long-distance training missions around Taiwan in 2016, and 20 in 2017. Beijing's increased military actions were meant as "a warning to Taiwan not to cross the red line" amid warming relations with the United States, Hung said. Chinese jets also crossed over the so-called "median line" of the Taiwan Strait during two high-level visits by US officials. The median line is unofficial but, until now, largely adhered to border running down the narrow strait separating Taiwan from the mainland. Last year a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman declared the line did not exist. Beijing has also been angered by the increasingly warm ties Taiwan built with Washington during outgoing President Donald Trump's tenure. On top of the high-level visits, his administration approved some $18 billion worth of arms sales to Taipei, while US warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait 13 times last year, according to local media.

'Tensions are now at their highest': Chinese jets made record 380 incursions in Taiwan

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said the region is ready to hold "meaningful" talks with China if Beijing puts aside "antagonism" and improve relations on the basis of "reciprocity and dignity" in her new year's speech on Friday.&nbsp;

"I want to reiterate, that when it comes to cross-strait relations we will not advance rashly and will stick to our principles," Tsai was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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"As long as the Beijing authorities are determined to defuse antagonism and improve cross-strait relations, in line with the principles of reciprocity and dignity, we are willing to jointly promote meaningful dialogue."

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-jails-29-taiwanese-deported-from-spain-for-fraud-353551">China jails 29 Taiwanese deported from Spain for fraud</a>

Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is at odds with Beijing over its authoritarian measures in Taiwan, an island that China considers its own.&nbsp;

Recently, China has pushed military activity near the island amid Taiwan's growing engagement with the United States.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed into Taiwan Assurance Act that bolsters support to the island region and has been included in a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid package.&nbsp;

China in 2016 ended formal talks mechanism with the island region after Tsai first came into office, saying she has to accept that the island is a part of China, something that the Taiwanese president refused to do.&nbsp;

The Taiwanese president was hopeful that once the coronavirus pandemic is under control "normal and orderly exchanges to increase understanding and reduce misunderstandings" between Chinese and Taiwanese people can resume.&nbsp;

However, Liu Jieyi, the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office affirmed in his new year message that "peace and stability" can be achieved in the Taiwan strait only when the demand of Taiwan independence is over.

"Only by eliminating the scourge of 'Taiwan independence' can there be peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," Liu was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said the region is ready to hold "meaningful" talks with China if Beijing puts aside "antagonism" and improve relations on the basis of "reciprocity and dignity" in her new year's speech on Friday.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said the region is ready to hold "meaningful" talks with China if Beijing puts aside "antagonism" and improve relations on the basis of "reciprocity and dignity" in her new year's speech on Friday. "I want to reiterate, that when it comes to cross-strait relations we will not advance rashly and will stick to our principles," Tsai was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. Watch | "As long as the Beijing authorities are determined to defuse antagonism and improve cross-strait relations, in line with the principles of reciprocity and dignity, we are willing to jointly promote meaningful dialogue." Also read | China jails 29 Taiwanese deported from Spain for fraud Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is at odds with Beijing over its authoritarian measures in Taiwan, an island that China considers its own. Recently, China has pushed military activity near the island amid Taiwan's growing engagement with the United States. On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed into Taiwan Assurance Act that bolsters support to the island region and has been included in a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid package. China in 2016 ended formal talks mechanism with the island region after Tsai first came into office, saying she has to accept that the island is a part of China, something that the Taiwanese president refused to do. The Taiwanese president was hopeful that once the coronavirus pandemic is under control "normal and orderly exchanges to increase understanding and reduce misunderstandings" between Chinese and Taiwanese people can resume. However, Liu Jieyi, the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office affirmed in his new year message that "peace and stability" can be achieved in the Taiwan strait only when the demand of Taiwan independence is over. "Only by eliminating the scourge of 'Taiwan independence' can there be peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," Liu was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.

Taiwanese President calls for 'meaningful' talks with China

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'Tensions are now at their highest': Chinese jets made record 380 incursions in Taiwan

Taiwanese President calls for 'meaningful' talks with China