US EditionFor Nearly Two Weeks, Chinese Fighter Jets Stopped Buzzing Taiwan. No One Seems to Know Why.
Taiwan saw 13 days without Chinese warplanes near its airspace amid China’s Two Sessions, a rare break in rising military activity, analysts say the pause may be temporary.
- Taiwan's MND logged that Thursday marked the end of a pause in Chinese warplanes near the Taiwan Strait, following a period of no sorties since March 6, when two aircraft were detected.
- Amid the Two Sessions, analysts noted 'political security' concerns likely prompted a scale-back, fuel conservation amid the U.S.-Iran conflict, and avoidance of escalation ahead of a Xi Jinping–Donald Trump meeting.
- Taiwan's MND recorded only two sorties by PLA support aircraft between March 1 and 10, while a U.S. Navy P-8 surveillance aircraft transit prompted a muted Chinese response.
- Wellington Koo, Taiwan's defense minister, urged caution as Chinese naval vessels remained active, while analysts said limited flights may not indicate full PLA normalization and Christina Chen called the drop short-term.
- Chinese warships continued around Taiwan while several aircraft flew near the median line, a pattern that could influence responses from Taipei and Washington, observers say.
13 Articles
13 Articles
The people of Taiwan have been used to the destruction of military aircraft that China has sent to them almost daily near the island for years to pressure Taipei. For a few weeks, however, almost no Chinese aircraft has been detected around Taiwan, which raises questions: where have these planes disappeared and why?
Chinese warplane lull around Taiwan tied to politics, fuel: Scholars
Taiwanese scholars said Thursday that a recent drop in Chinese warplane activity around Taiwan was temporary, likely driven by Beijing's desire for "political security" during the annual "Two Sessions" and higher fuel costs caused by tension in the Middle East.
ANALYSIS - This decline in activity could be a calming gesture towards Donald Trump before his visit to China, while purges in the army hovered over the meeting of the People's National Assembly which ends this Thursday.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
