Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwan's airspace, given 'verbal warnings'

Taiwan said on Tuesday that China's Su-30 fighters had entered its air defence identification zone.

The jets were given "verbal warnings" to leave and Taiwanese Air Force jets "drove away" the intruders, the ministry said.

The Taiwanese defence ministry said it "took active responses to dispel" multiple Chinese Su-30 fighters in the southwest region.

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"The military is fully monitoring sea and air conditions around the Taiwan Strait and takes active responsive measures to defend our territorial safety," it said in a statement.

China has stepped up moves on Taiwan in recent months amid the coronavirus crisis. A Chinese military jet had earlier crossed the "median line" of the Taiwan Strait on February 10.

In March last year, two Chinese J-11 fighter jets had entered Taiwan's air space which Taipei said was a "reckless and provocative" move.

China claims Taiwan to be a renegade province and has vowed to integrateit with the mainland. However, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has openly asserted thatthe country has an independent identity.

Last December, the Chinese military had sent the Shandong aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Straits just ahead of the presidential elections which Tsai won with a landslide.