Several Chinese fighter jets briefly entered Taiwan air space to its southwest on Tuesday, June 9, Reuters reported.

Taiwan's air force responded by buzzing the Chinese planes off with verbal warnings, the territory's defence ministry said.

Taiwanese jets "drove away" the intruders, which were identified as Su-30 fighters (pictured top) -- some of China's most advanced jets.

Taiwan has complained that China has stepped up military activities in recent months, menacing Taiwan even as the world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, China also says such exercises are not out of the ordinary.

China claims the democratic island as its own and has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

One of China's most senior generals said in May that China would attack if there was no other way of stopping Taiwan becoming independent.

United States military also active in region

The United States has also stepped up its military activities near the island.

The U.S. navy makes semi-regular voyaged through the narrow Taiwan Strait.

A U.S. C-40A, a military version of the Boeing 737, had entered Taiwanese air space in the northern and western area with permission after taking off from Japan's Okinawa island, which houses a major U.S. air base.

The plane was making its way to Southeast Asia.

But it did not land at any Taiwanese airports, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said in a separate statement on Tuesday.

Background

China is deeply suspicious of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, whom it accuses of being a separatist bent on declaring formal independence.

Tsai says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name.

Washington and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties.

But the U.S. is Taiwan's strongest international supporter and main arms supplier, and a source of U.S.-China tension.

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