Taiwan's air force was scrambled on Sunday to respond to a major Chinese military incursion into their 'air defence identification zone' of 19 aircraft which included several nuclear-capable bombers.  

Taiwanese authorities have condemned repeated incursions by the Chinese air force over the past year, but the latest Chinese mission was a considerable show of force, the likes of which have not been seen since June 15 when 28 Chinese aircraft breached Taiwanese territory.

The Chinese mission involved 10 J-16 and four Su-30 fighters, as well as four nuclear-capable H-6 bombers and an anti-submarine aircraft according to Taiwan's Defence Ministry.

Taiwanese combat aircraft were dispatched to warn away the Chinese aircraft which had flown between the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands and the mainland, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them, the ministry said.  

There was no immediate comment from China.

Taiwanese authorities have complained for several months that China's air force have exercised threatening behaviour near the self-ruled island by flying regular military operations, often in the southwestern part of its air defence zone near the Pratas Islands.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be a province of China under their 'One China' principle and sees the self-governed island as a separatist entity that should be under Chinese control, while Taiwan's Tsai administration maintains that the island is an independent state.