This afternoon Taiwan's authorities revealed that 16 Chinese aircraft entered the country's southwest air defense identification zone. The ADIZ is airspace over land or water in which the identification, location, and control of civil aircraft must be given to the relevant authorities - in this case Taiwan.

       The country's Ministry of National Defense confirmed the news this afternoon.

       It tweeted: "16 PLA (People's Republic of China) aircraft (J-16*10 and J-10*6) entered Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on November 6, 2021."

       Of the 16 aircraft, 10 were Shenyang J-16's fighter aircraft.

       The remaining six were Chengdu J-10 fighter jets.

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       Both types of aircraft are multi-role - meaning they can engage in air-to-air combat or bombing missions.

       When their presence was discovered, Taiwan's authorities sent its own aircraft, issued radio warnings and activated its air defense missile systems to "monitor the activity", it confirmed.

       News of the incursion quickly went viral online - with some observers accusing Xi Jinping's communist Government of "continuing its provocations".

       Twitter account Indo-Pacific News - Watching the CCP-China Threat shared the news but claimed that China's account would "only increase international support for Taiwan".

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       News of the incursion came amid rising tensions between the two countries - which both claim to be the rightful leaders of both of their countries.

       Taiwan's Government was originally created in the 1950s in the aftermath of the Chinese civil war by remnants of the nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek's regime.

       China's mainland has been ruled by communists since the war ended - and it has always claimed sovereignty over Taiwan - which is officially called the Republic of China.

       As the communist state's economic and military power has grown significantly over recent decades - it has adopted an increasingly hostile stance towards Taiwan.

       Earlier this week it said it would hold those who support “Taiwan independence” criminally liable for life, provoking anger and ridicule from the island.

       This would involve not letting blacklisted individuals to enter China and its special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian said.

       Their companies or entities that fund them would not be allowed to profit from the mainland, she also said.

       It has also not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control - stoking fears that it could invade at some point in the future.

       This threat comes despite the island operating as an independent country, and its government vowing to defend its freedom and democracy.