China deployed fighter jets and warships to encircle Taiwan on Monday in drills Beijing said intended to send a "stern warning" to "separatist" forces on the self-ruled island.

"We call on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that may further escalate cross-strait tensions, which should be resolved through dialogue," EU foreign policy spokesperson Nabila Massrali said in a statement.

Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control and Monday's drills were its fourth large-scale war games in just over two years.

The EU said the military activities increased cross-strait tensions, adding that stability in the Taiwan Strait were of strategic importance for global security.

"We oppose any unilateral actions that change the status quo by force or coercion," Massrali said.

The dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to a civil war in which the nationalist forces were defeated by communist fighters and fled to the island in 1949. China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since then.

China has ramped up military activity around the island in recent years.