World War III fears as 27 Chinese jets enter Taiwan airspace in direct threat

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group are deeply concerned about rising tensions over Taiwan, an official from the presiding country, Cambodia, said today

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Nancy Pelosi from the United States arrives in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei

Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan's air defense zone today in retaliation for Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, infuriating Beijing.

It was reported that 27 fighter jets, including 16 Russian-made Su-30 aircraft, entered the area, prompting Taipei to take defensive measures.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, visited Taiwan on Tuesday as China threatened the United States with consequences.

China views Taiwan as part of its country in a breakaway province, and Chinese President Xi Jinping is desperate to formally take over the island, saying he would annex it by force if necessary.

In 1949, Taiwan and China separated after the Communists won a civil war on the mainland.

Taiwanese Ministry of Defense released footage of Chinese planes breaching its defense zone

Then in 2016, China cut off all contact with the Taiwanese government after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen refused to endorse Beijing's claim that the island and mainland together form a single Chinese nation .

The Chinese state-run Global Times said Pelosi's visit could catalyze the process of Taiwan's "reunification" with China. And China has increased its military presence to try to force the island to accept Chinese rule.

During the latest heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan said it sent in aircraft and deployed missile systems to "monitor" Chinese activities in its Air Defense Identification Zone.

Taipei's generals said on Wednesday they were not looking to fight China, but "wouldn't hesitate" either.