Taiwan urges China to stop ‘destructive’ military activities as fighter jets cross median line

Fighter jets have again crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which had served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides until China began crossing it a year ago. Photograph: AP

Taiwan’s defence ministry has urged China to stop “destructive, unilateral action” after reporting a sharp rise in Chinese military activities near the island, warning such behaviour could lead to an increase in tensions.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has in recent years regularly carried out military drills around the island as it seeks to assert its sovereignty claims and pressure Taipei.