Taiwan claims it dispatched fighter jets into its air defense zone to warn off 30 Chinese warplanes.
The intrusion on Monday was the most serious since January.
It happened just days after US Vice President Joe Biden warned China against invading Taiwan, and on the same day that a senior US diplomat paid a visit to the island to discuss security with local authorities.In recent months, China has increased the frequency of its aviation missions, saying that they are training drills.
Such actions have enraged Taiwan and heightened regional tensions.
Taiwan is regarded by China as a breakaway province that it can seize by force if necessary.
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According to Taiwan's defense ministry, the current incident involved 22 fighters, as well as electronic warfare, early warning, and antisubmarine planes.
According to a chart given by the ministry, the plane flew through an area northeast of the Pratas Islands that is part of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
However, the planes did not fly into Taiwanese airspace, which would have been considered a hostile act.
In the purpose of national security, an ADIZ is a region outside of a country's territory and national airspace where foreign aircraft are nonetheless identified, monitored, and controlled. It is self-declared and retains international airspace in theory.
For more than a year, Taiwan has been reporting Chinese aircraft straying into its ADIZ, describing it as "grey zone" warfare aimed at testing their military response and tiring them out.
Analysts have previously stated that the intrusions were a warning to Taiwan's authorities to refrain from formally declaring independence.
Beijing has previously stated that the drills were conducted to safeguard its sovereignty.During his visit to Asia last week, which was his first as president, Mr. Biden mentioned the air incursions.
He warned China that it was "already flirting with danger right now by flying so close" to Taiwan, and he gave his harshest threat yet, stating the US would be willing to respond militarily if Beijing invaded the island.
His statements appeared to signal a departure from the US' long-standing policy of "strategic ambiguity" on Taiwan, which permitted the US to be purposely unclear about its response in a crisis.
China's military announced last week that an exercise was recently conducted around Taiwan as a "solemn warning" against its "collusion" with the US.
On the same day of the incursion, US Senator Tammy Duckworth landed in Taipei for an unannounced visit to discuss regional security and trade with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
The Basics on China and Taiwan
Why are China's relations with Taiwan so strained? Despite the fact that China and Taiwan were split during a civil war in the 1940s, Beijing asserts that the island would be regained at some point, perhaps by force.
Taiwan is governed in a unique way. The island has its own constitution, democratically elected officials, and a military force of approximately 300,000 active personnel.
Taiwan is hardly known. Taiwan is recognized by a small number of countries. Instead, most people see Beijing as the seat of Chinese government. Although the United States has no formal connections with Taiwan, it is required by law to furnish the island with self-defense weapons.
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