china simulated an invasion of Taiwan today after dozens of jets and warships crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to the island's Ministry of Defence.

The highly aggressive display of intimidation featuring some 20 Chinese aircraft and 14 ships comes days after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei that infuriated Beijing.

Taiwan's armed forces issued an alert, dispatched air and naval patrols around the island, and activated land-based missile systems in response to the Chinese exercises

The ministry said that zones declared by China as no-go areas during the exercises for other ships and aircraft had 'seriously damaged the peace' in what was effectively a blockade of the island - an act of war by international law. 

The Taiwanese military, finding itself in a situation similar to Ukraine in February, emphasised that it did not wish to poke the dragon, but would defend itself if attacked.

The median line has been an unofficial border separating the two warring sides that was drawn by a US general in 1955 

China's Ministry of Defence said in a statement Saturday that it had carried out military exercises as planned in the sea and airspaces to the north, southwest, and east of Taiwan, with a focus on 'testing the capabilities' of its land strike and sea assault systems.