Taiwan reports record 45 Chinese warplanes breaching its airspace in a single day as Beijing sends an unmistakable message to the island nation and its allies.
At a Glance
- Taiwan detected 45 Chinese military aircraft around its territory in a 24-hour period, the highest number this year
- 13 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, a longstanding informal boundary
- The aggressive display follows Taiwan Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim’s diplomatic trip to Europe
- Taiwan has condemned China’s actions as dangerous and urged international attention to regional security
- The incursion occurs amid growing tensions between China and Taiwan since the election of President Lai Ching-te
Unprecedented Military Pressure
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported detecting 45 Chinese military aircraft operating around the island within a 24-hour period, marking the highest single-day incursion this year. Among these aircraft, 13 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the unofficial boundary that Beijing has increasingly disregarded in recent years. The alarming military presence included 36 aircraft and six naval vessels, establishing a clear pattern of intensifying pressure tactics directed at the democratic island nation that China claims as its territory.
The escalation represents the latest development in China’s ongoing “grey zone” warfare strategy – military actions that fall short of actual combat but serve to exhaust Taiwan’s resources and demonstrate Beijing’s displeasure with the island’s independent governance. This approach has intensified significantly since 2016, when President Tsai Ing-wen first took office, and has further accelerated following Taiwan’s recent election of Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing openly condemns as a separatist.
Chinese PLA aircraft incursions.#AFPGraphics Chart showing incursions of Chinese military aircraft that have crossed the median line or entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ in 2024.
Taiwan's defence ministry said Thursday it had detected 66 Chinese military… pic.twitter.com/wp8HRCVmV5
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 11, 2024
Analysts point to Taiwan Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim’s current European diplomatic tour as a trigger for China’s aggressive display. Beijing has explicitly criticized these meetings as promoting Taiwan independence on the international stage.
The timing of the military demonstrations appears calculated to send a message not only to Taiwan but also to European nations engaging with Taipei’s leadership.
“If this can discourage other international leaders from meeting Hsiao in the future, all the better from Beijing’s perspective,” analyst Wen-ti Sung said.
Despite Chinese pressure, European parliamentarians have expressed solidarity with Taiwan’s democratic values.
During Hsiao’s visit, French member of the European Parliament Dominique Riquet reinforced the importance of maintaining ties with Taiwan, highlighting shared democratic principles that contrast sharply with Beijing’s authoritarian governance. Such international support further inflames tensions between China and Taiwan while underscoring the geopolitical importance of the conflict.
“Our fight for freedom and democracy is more shared than ever, and the Taiwanese people can rest assured it will always find dear friends in Europeans,” Riquet said.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has since issued strong condemnations of China’s military activities, urging Beijing to “exercise rational self-restraint” while calling for increased international attention to security concerns in the Taiwan Strait. The island’s military has mobilized to monitor and respond to these provocations, deploying aircraft and naval vessels to track Chinese movements. Taiwan condemned the recent “live-fire” drills off its southern coast as a dangerous violation of international norms and a direct threat to regional stability.
The intensifying situation presents multiple strategic challenges beyond direct military concerns. Recent incidents, including a fatal boat collision near Taiwan’s Kinmen islands and suspicions of Chinese interference with Taiwan’s subsea telecommunications cables, have further strained relations. Taiwan recently seized a Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of cutting underwater communication infrastructure, highlighting vulnerabilities beyond conventional military threats.
The China-Taiwan conflict traces back to 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist forces retreated to Taiwan following defeat by Mao Zedong’s communists in the Chinese civil war. Since then, the United States has served as Taiwan’s primary ally and military supplier, maintaining a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding direct intervention in a potential China-Taiwan conflict. American support includes substantial arms sales and diplomatic backing that bolsters Taiwan’s defense capabilities against Chinese pressure.
Taiwan’s newly elected President Lai Ching-te plans to strengthen military investments and boost economic ties with the United States, including increased imports of American natural gas to reduce dependence on China.
China needs to be careful. President Trump has made it clear he sides with Taiwan – and he’s taking his pledges very seriously so far.
