War fears grow as China flies record number of nuke bombers and fighter jets into Taiwan airspace

A LETHAL fleet of Chinese nuke bombers and fighter jets have entered Taiwanese airspace in record numbers - as war fears continue to grow amid escalating conflicts with the US.

It is the latest bold manoeuver in a series of increasingly aggressive actions from Beijing, as tensions continue to brew over US interference - who continue to deepen their ties with Taiwan.

The Taiwanese government has become continuously frustrated after a spate of Chinese incursions in recent months, mostly concentrating on the southwestern sector of Taiwan's air defence zone - that show no sign of slowing down.

The most recent mission on Monday saw an impressive squadron of 14 J-16 and four J-10 fighter jets, accompanied by four H-6K bombers.

The deadly troop of aircraft, that are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, were joined by two anti-submarine aircraft and an early warning aircraft, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

It marks a serious step-up of invasions of the air space in the breakaway province since the ministry began reporting Chinese airforce activities in the area last year.

Taiwanese combat aircrafts were launched to intercept and deter the Chinese jets, which followed a route near to the Pratas Islands, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them.

Beijing has previously maintained such incursions were an effort to protect the country's sovereignty and squash "collusion" between Taipei and Washington.

Just days before the 25-strong flying force was deployed, the US issued new guidelines that seem to have added fuel to the fiery tensions, that reinforce their deepening relationship with Taiwan.

Despite having no formal diplomatic ties with the island nation, the US has lent itself as a strong ally amid the growing hostility with Beijing in recent years.

In January, China sent 15 fighter jets into Taiwanese airspace twice in two days, just as President Joe Biden took office - which was regarded as a warning to the new administration.

But Biden defiantly confirmed the US commitment to Taiwan was "rock-solid" and instead voiced concerns of China's "pattern of ongoing attempts to intimidate its neighbours".

The new regulations will allow officials from the two countries to meet more freely.

Washington's Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned last week it would be a "serious mistake" for anyone to try and alter the status quo in the Western Pacific by force, after voicing concerns regarding China's increasingly militant measures.

China regards Taiwan as its most sensitive territorial issue - that is off-limits to the US - and has worryingly never ruled out the use of force in potential plans to unify.

Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu previously said the country will fight "to the very last day" if it came under attack from China.

It is feared this notion is on the brink of becoming a reality, as a chilling report by the Council on Foreign Relations think tank warned a "severe crisis" could be expected this year.

The CFR's annual  of foreign policy experts said the potential clash in the region has risen to a “top-tier conflict” for the first time in its 13-year history, amid the "intensifying political and economic pressure from China against Taiwan."

Experts said Taiwan "is becoming the most dangerous flashpoint in the world for a possible war that involves the United States, China, and probably other major powers.";

The report's authors says Joe Biden's administration must change and clarify its strategy to prevent all-out war in the region.

Biden, who took an anti-war stance in the election, said earlier this month he expects future rivalry with China will take the form of “extreme competition” rather than conflict.