Taiwan reports eight Chinese fighters in its defence zone as it appoints new defence minister

Taiwan’s air force scrambled after eight Chinese fighter aircraft flew into the south-western part of its air defence identification zone, in an uptick in tensions that came as Taipei announced a new defence minister and intelligence chief.

China has increased its military activity around the democratic island it claims as Chinese territory in recent months.

Beijing said it is responding to what it calls “collusion” between Taiwan and the United States, Taiwan’s most important international backer and weapons supplier.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said four Chinese J-16s and four JH-7s as well as an electronic warfare aircraft flew near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the top part of the South China Sea, into the…