Taiwan has scrambled its air force against renewed Chinese military activity, with its defence ministry reporting that 19 aircraft, including nuclear-capable bombers, had flown into Taiwan's air defence identification zone.

Taiwan has complained for more than a year of repeated missions by China's air force near the self-ruled island.

It has often occurred in the southwestern part of its air defence zone, near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

The latest Chinese mission on Sunday involved 10 J-16 and four Su-30 fighters, as well as four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, and an anti-submarine aircraft, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said.

Taiwanese combat aircraft were dispatched to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them, it said.

The Chinese aircraft flew in an area northeast of the Pratas, according to a map provided by Taiwan's defence ministry.

There was no immediate comment from China.

A pattern of intrusions

The last such large-scale activity, on June 15, involved 28 Chinese air force aircraft, the largest incursion reported by Taiwan to date.

China often mounts such missions to express displeasure at something Taiwan has done or at shows of international support for the democratically ruled island, especially by the United States, Taiwan's main arms provider.

It was not clear what might have prompted China to launch its aircraft this time, although a US warship and a US Coast Guard cutter sailed through the Taiwan Strait last month.

China has described its activities as necessary to protect the country's sovereignty and deal with "collusion" between Taipei and Washington.

Taiwan's defence ministry warned last week that the threat from China was growing.

It said China's armed forces could "paralyse" Taiwan's defences and were able to fully monitor its deployments.

Reuters