TAIPEI — Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported a sharp increase in Chinese military activity around the island on Sunday, detecting 26 military aircraft and seven naval vessels within a 24-hour window. According to official reports, 16 of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), specifically targeting the northern, central, and southwestern regions. This sudden surge marks a significant departure from the relative calm observed over the past two weeks.
Military analysts noted that the recent lull in activity likely coincided with the annual meeting of China’s legislature in Beijing. During such high-profile political events, China often reduces its overt military posturing to maintain domestic stability and focus on policy announcements. However, some experts suggest the pause may have also been a strategic attempt to avoid unnecessary provocation ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to China from March 31 to April 2—a visit the White House has announced but Beijing has yet to officially confirm.
Despite the temporary decrease in aerial sorties, Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo emphasized that Chinese naval presence remained consistently active in the waters surrounding the island. This indicates that while the “quiet” period for warplanes was notable, the underlying military pressure never truly dissipated. Experts believe China may be recalibrating its tactics or exploring new models for joint military training and modernization.
China continues to view democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. The return of large-scale air force activity is seen as a continuation of Beijing’s “gray-zone” tactics, designed to exhaust Taiwan’s military resources and test its defense capabilities. Taiwanese authorities confirmed they monitored the situation closely and responded appropriately to the incursions to ensure national security.
