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China · Geopolitics · Military · Taiwan
China has resumed military flights near Taiwan after an unexplained week-long hiatus, with at least two warplanes entering Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Saturday.
This follows a period of significantly reduced activity, with hundreds of flights in early 2023 (248 in January, 362 in February) decreasing to dozens in early 2024 (166 in January, 161 in February). The flights had ceased entirely on February 27, marking the lowest number of Chinese sorties since Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te took office in May 2024.
While the Institute for the Study of War suggests the decline aligns with typical seasonal winter patterns since 2023, implying a potential increase in spring, the sudden halt and resumption contribute to regional uncertainty. China maintains its "One China" policy, asserting sovereignty over Taiwan.
The reason for the hiatus remains unclear, but it coincided with US-Israeli military actions against Iran, a Chinese ally, in the Middle East, potentially linking global geopolitical flashpoints.
