China is staging one of its biggest incursions so far in the seas and skies around Taiwan

It said that 71 Chinese air force planes, including fighter jets and drones, had entered Taiwan’s so-called air defence identification zone.

Taiwan is self-ruled – but China sees it as a breakaway province with which it will eventually reunite.

Tensions between the two sides have steadily increased in recent months.

In August, Beijing was enraged by a visit to the island by US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the most senior US politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years.