Numerous Chinese fighter jets, bombers, and surveillance aircraft conducted "routine" and "planned" distant sea patrols on Monday to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke said.

China’s military confirmed the military action on Tuesday.

The aircraft flew over the Miyako Strait in Japan's south and the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines to "test real combat capabilities", Shen said.

The fighters include H-6K bombers, Su-30 fighters, J-11 fighters, surveillance, alert and refuelling aircraft

Taiwan Defence Minister Feng Shih-kuan said in a statement they had dispatched aircraft and ships to monitor the activity of the Chinese military.

He added that the drills were not unusual and people should not be alarmed.

China has conducted similar patrols a number of times near Taiwan this year.

They claim such practices have been normalised as it presses ahead with a military modernisation programme that includes building aircraft carriers and stealth fighters to give it the ability to project power far from its shores.

China considers Taiwan to be a wayward province and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control.

The Anti-Secession law allows China to use force on Taiwan if deemed necessary to prevent the island from gaining independence.

Beijing regularly calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue between it and the United States.

Although the United States has no formal ties with Taiwan it is bound by law to help it defend itself and is its main source of arms.

In September, the US Congress passed the National Defence Authorisation Act for the 2018 fiscal year, which authorises mutual visits by navy vessels between Taiwan and the United States.

That prompted a senior US-based Chinese diplomat to say last week that China would invade Taiwan the instant any US Navy vessel visited Taiwan.

According to Chinese media, Li said: “The day that a US Navy vessel arrives in Kaohsiung is the day that our People’s Liberation Army unifies Taiwan with military force.”

Taiwan is well armed, mostly with US weaponry, but has been pressing Washington to sell it more high-tech equipment to better deter China.

China suspects Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who leads the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, wants to declare the island's formal independence.

Tsai says she wants to maintain peace with China but will defend Taiwan's security.

Influential Chinese tabloid the Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, said China would never back down over Taiwan.

In an editorial, the paper said: “The Chinese mainland has never given up the option of Taiwan reunification by force, which is clear to people across the Taiwan Strait.

“Li’s words have sent a warning to Taiwan and drew a clear red line. If Taiwan attempts to hold an independence referendum or other activities in pursuit of de jure ‘Taiwan independence’, the PLA will undoubtedly take action.”

China’s foreign policy has been pushing southwards to the South China Sea and has led to territorial disputes with neighbours.

In November, Beijing deployed warplanes and bombers to fly over the disputed South China Sea during a series of military training drills in a show of force against the United States.

China has previously accused the US of trying to militarise the region as escalation continues to mount over Beijing’s ally North Korea.