China reportedly flew off the handle after two United States military fighter jets made an emergency landing in Taiwan on Wednesday in what military analysts said was a rare contact between the militaries of the U.S. and the democratic island.

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying  expressed anger over the incident, demanding that the United States strictly abide by the One-China Policy and cautiously and appropriately handle this situation.

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"We have already made representations to the U.S. side," Chunying told reporters in a news briefing.

Reports from Taiwan said that the two U.S. fighter jets, F-18s, landed in an air force base in southern Taiwan Wednesday after experiencing a mechanical failure, but it was not clear where the pilots came from or where they were going.

The Pentagon justified its pilots' emergency landing in the island and even praised Taiwan for permitting pilots in distress to land on their territory safely.

Pentagon spokeswoman Henrietta Levin said that while the landing was 'unplanned' and was made out of mechanical necessity,Taiwan acted appropriately and its accommodation reflected well on the island in letting the distressed U.S. pilots land in their territory without any military confrontation.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the United States is obligated to help Taiwan defend itself, even as Washington severed formal ties with the island to recognize the People's Republic of China in Beijing.

The Taiwan Relations Act was enacted by the United States Congress on April 10, 1979. Since the recognition of the People's Republic of China, the Act has defined the non-diplomatic relations between the United States and the governing authorities in Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan as a renegade province and has announced over the years that it will use all force to bring it under its control, including the use of military power.

Formal contacts between the militaries of both Taiwan and the U.S., specifically the sale of weapons to Taipei, have angered China in the past, but these have not caused extreme damage on China's economic and military relations with either Taipei or the United States, so far.

China has entered into economic deals with the democratic Taiwan starting 2008 but political and military analysts continue to warn Taipei of the true intentions of China.

TagsTaiwan Relations Act, People's Republic of China, Taiwan, U.S. Fighter jets