The Ministry of National Defense today (3rd) announced the latest updates on the sea and airspace surrounding the Taiwan Strait. From 6 a.m. yesterday (2) to 6 a.m. today, a total of 49 aircraft sorties (31 of which entered the central, southwestern and eastern airspace), a total of 6 ships and 6 official ships were detected. They continued to operate around the Taiwan Strait, and the number has increased sharply compared to recent times. Scholars interviewed analyzed that this was an unannounced "quiet exercise" and high-intensity gray zone action taken by China. It was also an "afterthought" in response to the recent support of the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan and South Korea for Taiwan and the military exercises between the United States and Japan. He also compared the current situation on both sides of the Taiwan Strait with "Taiwan's election saw a few casualties, and Chinese military aircraft showed off their fists; Taiwan's election was carried out with joyful car sweeps, and the Communist army intimidated the island." He emphasized that no matter how many aircraft are shared, Taiwan will not take it lightly, and the solid defense of the national military is the most important key.
According to a diagram released by the Ministry of National Defense, a total of 49 sorties were flown yesterday, concentrated in the southwest airspace and extending to the southeast airspace. In the face of the massive intrusion by the Communist forces, reporters in the area around the Tainan Air Force Base yesterday frequently heard Chinese fighter jets and helicopters taking off and landing intensively, roaring past to protect the airspace. The Ministry of National Defense also emphasized that the Chinese military uses mission aircraft, ships and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor and respond.
In response to the sudden surge in the number of joint aircraft and ships, Su Ziyun, director of the Institute of Defense Strategy and Resources of the National Defense Academy, observed that this is a "quiet exercise" on the part of China, which continues to carry out high-intensity gray zone operations against Taiwan, but adopts a "non-announcement" mode compared with the past. Therefore, there were 49 military aircraft sorties, 6 warships and 6 official ships in a single day. He pointed out that China has stepped up pressure in gray areas, including combat readiness police patrols and coastal police joining regular law enforcement. The frequency and frequency may increase in the future, but no matter how many or few communist military aircraft and ships there are, Taiwan will not take it lightly. The response of our national military is the most important.
At the time of the domestic election campaign, Su Ziyun also described this as "Taiwan's election saw a lot of casualties, Chinese military aircraft showed off their fists; Taiwan's election was carried out with happy car sweeps, and the Communist army was intimidating and circling the island."
As for the reason why the Communist Army raised its profile at this time, Su Ziyun analyzed that it was related to external international support for Taiwan and regional military dynamics, and could be regarded as an "afterthought" by the People's Liberation Army. First of all, the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, and South Korea recently expressed their support for security, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait during the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Secondly, the US-Japanese "Sharp Sword Exercise" has just ended, and the USS Roosevelt may be lingering and preparing to enter the Middle East, while the PLA Liaoning may be preparing to return or take other actions in the waters east of the Philippines. Therefore, in this case, the PLA's combat readiness patrol against Taiwan suddenly raised its profile as a phased "finale."
In response to the outside world's concern about whether the United States is creating a window of opportunity during the mid-term elections for China to be ready to take action, Su Ziyun believes that this is secondary, because no matter which political party wins the election, US President Trump is still in office. If Beijing conducts targeted exercises at this time, it will instead strengthen the anti-China awareness and posture of the two parties in the United States, which is quite unworthy for Beijing.
As for whether the Communist Army may hold a large-scale military exercise at the end of the year? Su Ziyun said that the Communist Army usually conducts "strategic acceptance" exercises at the strategic level of various services and arms at the end of the year. Since the last unnamed military exercise against Taiwan in December 2025, there has been no military exercise targeting Taiwan this year. It is expected that China will still conduct its own "strategic acceptance" exercises as usual at the end of 2026. In addition, in previous years, the People's Liberation Army held an aircraft carrier "Long Sea Voyage" exercise from mid-November to mid-December. It is estimated that the aircraft carrier "Shandong" may be replaced in mid-December. The only difference is whether it will be packaged as an exercise targeting Taiwan.
