Taiwanese fighter jets were seen taking off and landing at an air base in the island's north on Monday (April 10) as China continues a series of military drills simulating strikes on Taiwan.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, began three days of military exercises around the island on Saturday (April 8), the day after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen returned from her brief visit to the U.S. where she met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Sunday (April 9) that in the previous 24 hours it had spotted 71 Chinese air force aircraft and nine navy vessels around Taiwan, and that its forces remained on "high alert".

China describes Taiwan as the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with the United States, and the topic is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington.

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