British and US warships intercepted by Chinese forces sailing through Taiwan Strait as fears rage Xi could invade

CHINA scrambled its forces to watch British and American warships like hawks as they sailed through the contentious Taiwan Strait.

Beijing brazenly accused the Western allies of undermining peace in the region, despite despot Xi Jinping continuing to plot an invasion of neighbouring Taiwan.

Chinese naval and air forces monitored the American destroyer USS Higgins and the British frigate HMS Richmond as they passed through the strait on Friday.

The Taiwan Strait separates China from the island of Taiwan - a self-governing country that Beijing claims should be under its control.

China considers the strait to be its own territorial waters , with a military spokesperson calling the Anglo-American voyage a "harassment and provocation".

The move "sent wrong signals and undermined pea