China toughened its language towards Taiwan , warning after recent stepped up military activities near the island that “independence means war” and that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation and foreign interference, Reuters reports.

Taiwan, claimed by China as its territory, reported multiple Chinese fighter jets and bombers entering the island’s southwestern air defence identification zone over the weekend, prompting concern in Washington.

The US has called China’s latest warning “unfortunate”, adding that tensions did not need to lead to “anything like confrontation”.