In the most recent escalation of tension across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense announced that Taiwan Air Force aircraft had rushed again to warn and remove 27 Chinese fighters who had entered their air defence area, at a time when Chinese President Xi Jinping had met with his senior generals.

Taiwan, considered part of its territory by China, has been complaining for a year or more about repeated Chinese sorties near the democratic island, usually in the southwestern part of the air defense zone near Taiwan-controlled Pratas Island.

Over a period of 4 days beginning on October 1, Taiwan reported that nearly 150 Chinese military aircraft had entered its air defence area, which is not its territorial airspace but a wider range dominated by Taiwan and gives it more time to counter an attack.

The Taiwan Ministry of Defence said that the most recent Chinese air incursion involved 18 fighter jets, as well as the unusual 5 of H-6 launchers capable of carrying a nuclear weapon and a refueling aircraft in the air.

The Ministry added that Taiwan had sent combat aircraft to warn and remove Chinese aircraft, while deploying missile systems to follow them up.

There was no immediate comment from China, which had previously said that such moves were exercises aimed at protecting the sovereignty of the country.

Meanwhile, Chinese state media reported that President Xi Jinping held a three-day meeting, concluded, with the country's top military leaders to discuss how to strengthen the armed forces through talent development.

Although the reading of the statements did not refer directly to Taiwan, Xi stressed the need to modernize the army in order to be able to win the wars.