Mainland China piles on the pressure to Taiwan’s east in a twist on old tactics

Data compiled from the Taiwanese defence ministry’s daily briefings shows a rise in drone and helicopter activity on the far side of the island

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Published: 6:00am, 13 Dec 2024Updated: 6:37am, 14 Dec 2024

In the second of a three-part series on mainland China’s increasing military presence around the self-governed island, Hayley Wong looks at how the People’s Liberation Army has been stepping up its efforts away from the Taiwan Strait.

To city dwellers and tourists in Taiwan, the island’s eastern coast is all about pristine mountains, deep gorges, and vast, scenic views of the Pacific Ocean that stretch uninterrupted towards Guam, 2,900km (1,800 miles) away.

To the Taiwanese military, the island’s east has long been considered a safe haven – with the natural barriers of terrain and its position at the furthest reach from mainland China’s looming military pressure on the western coast, facing the Taiwan Strait.

But while Beijing continues to concentrate its efforts in the strait, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) appears to be changing the dynamic – adding a twist this year with more reconnaissance and strategic efforts on the island’s far side.

Over the past 18 months, the PLA has deployed more helicopters, combat aircraft and drones to the island’s eastern seaboard, according to data compiled by the South China Morning Post from the Taiwanese defence ministry’s daily reports.

The ministry provides details of the number of PLA aircraft and vessels near Taiwan every day, including the number of aircraft entering Taiwan’s de facto air defence identification zone, and the activity areas of different aircraft types.

SCMP Series

Mainland China’s Taiwan military presence

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