Taiwan scrambled jets earlier this week to ward off aggressive Chinese aircraft

Taiwan scrambled jets earlier this week to warn 29 Chinese planes in its airspace to keep away.

The planes included bombers that entered the area south of the island and into the Pacific Ocean.

China has repeatedly sent planes and water vessels into Taiwanese territory in recent years, much to the displeasure of democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.

Taiwan has dubbed China's repeated nearby military activity "grey zone" warfare, intended to test and intimidate Taiwanese defense forces. 

The most recent mission involved 17 fighter jets and six H-6 bombers, in addition to a dose of electronic warfare, according to Taiwan's ministry of defense.

Some of the Chinese aircraft made their way east to the Pratas Islands, which are controlled by Taiwan.

Taiwan sent combat aircraft to ward off the Chinese aircraft. The Taiwan defense ministry additionally monitored the aircraft with missile systems. The country's foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said the Chinese military threat is "more serious than ever."

In the past, China has said that such excursions are drills performed with the goal of protecting the country's sovereignty. Last month, China sent 30 aircraft into Taiwanese territory.