Overview
- Taiwan’s defence ministry reported 26 Chinese military aircraft operating around the island in 24 hours, with 16 entering its ADIZ and seven navy vessels detected nearby.
- The larger deployment follows a rare slowdown in late February and early March when no Chinese aircraft were reported for several days and only sporadic flights occurred afterward.
- Beijing offered no explanation for the pause or the renewed activity, according to reporting from Taipei’s daily updates.
- China’s Taiwan Affairs Office escalated rhetoric toward President Lai Ching-te after his defence remarks, warning that he should not miscalculate.
- Analysts in Taipei linked the earlier lull to China’s legislature session or possible recalibration ahead of President Trump’s planned March 31–April 2 China trip, which the White House has outlined but Beijing has not confirmed, while Taiwan said its readiness posture did not change.