Before 2016, the PLA maintained a relatively limited and sporadic military presence near Taiwan. While occasional exercises took place, it was rare for Chinese air or naval forces to cross into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) or operate regularly around the island. Most PLA activity focused on training exercises conducted within the Taiwan Strait or along China’s own coastline.
This pattern began to shift significantly following the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016. After Tsai took office, the PLA gradually increased the frequency of air patrols and bomber flights near Taiwan. For the first time, the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) began conducting long-range bomber missions that occasionally circumnavigated the island, with the first recorded instance occurring in 2016. Although these flights remained occasional at first, their frequency steadily increased over time.
In September 2020, the Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense began to release real-time military updates, to document PLA incursions into its ADIZ. This greatly improved understanding of China's sustained military presence around Taiwan. By 2020, the PLA was conducting near-daily incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ. This persistent military pressure continues today. In 2021, the PLA flew 972 aircraft within Taiwan’s ADIZ; in 2022, it was 1,738; 1,703 in 2023; and 3,615 in 2024.
In 2020, Naval activity also expanded, with Chinese warships frequently transiting near or encircling Taiwan, contributing to a constant maritime presence.
Today, the PLA’s military activity around Taiwan is systematic and highly routinized. Daily or near-daily air incursions are accompanied by frequent naval patrols, particularly in waters to the east and south of Taiwan. In addition, China’s growing fleet of aircraft carriers has occasionally been deployed in exercises that simulate blockades or power projection near Taiwan’s eastern approaches.
Another development has been the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These drones began appearing in PLA operations in 2022, particularly after the high-profile visit of then-U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. UAV missions have since become a regular feature of China’s broader effort to conduct persistent surveillance and signal military pressure.
The data collected and published by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense provides a detailed record of these activities, offering insights into the daily number of aircraft and vessels detected operating near Taiwan. This information highlights the scale and intensity of China’s growing military footprint in the region.
PLA‑N = PLA Navy; PLA‑AF= PLA Air Force.
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