Taiwan's air forces scrambled again as a warning to nine Chinese aircraft that entered Taiwan's air defense zone. The Chinese aircrafts entered Taiwan's zone on the same day Russia started its operation in Ukraine.

China claims Taiwan as one of its territories. Due to recent attacks on Ukraine, Taipei is closely watching its air defense zone, Taiwan's defense ministry said.

For the past two years, the Chinese air forces came highly close to Taiwan's air space, but this is the first time they entered it.

Since January 23, fly-bys have been sporadic with fewer aircraft. According to the Taipei reports, on the day military operations started in Ukraine, 39 Chinese aircraft were spotted.

Taiwanese fighters were sent up to warn the Chinese aircraft, and air defense missiles were deployed to "monitor the activities," the ministry said.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei reiterated that Taiwan was a "core issue," adding it would not tolerate any foreign interference.

He warned:

"We urge the U.S. side to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, stop interfering in China's internal affairs and stop playing with fire on the Taiwan issue."

On the other hand, the Biden administration swore to commit more diplomatic and security resources to the region.

The latest mission involved eight Chinese J-16 fighters and one Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft. They flew to the northeast of the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top end of the South China Sea.