President Tsai visits military bases in Kaohsiung

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visited Air Force and Navy personnel in sourn port city of Kaohsiung on Saturday, to boost morale amid escalating tensions in Taiwan Strait.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, China sent two planes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense.

In response, Taiwanese side dispatched air patrols, ministry said.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has remained defiant, visiting a military base on Tuesday and encouraging personnel, in particular pilots and crew.

On Saturday, Tsai visited 3rd Logistic Unit of Air Force Command Hequarters and listened to servicemen's briefing on ir daily jobs, maintaining and repairing aircraft engines.

At a meal with Navy servicemen afterwards, she called m "unsung heroes" in first presidential visit to unit during its over six deces of existence.

president also said she was "very impressed" with capabilities of Navy servicemen who wear heavy diving suits to operate underwater.

China has increased diplomatic and military pressure on Tsai’s government over her refusal to agree to China’s insistence that island be considered part of Chinese territory.

vast majority of Taiwanese reject prospect of political union with China under “one country, two systems” framework used for Hong Kong.

Following Tsai's election in 2016, China cut off contact with Taiwanese government and has sought to isolate it, siphoning off island's diplomatic allies while ratcheting up political, military and ecomic pressure.