politics
For nearly two weeks, Chinese fighter jets stopped buzzing Taiwan. No one seems to know why.
Taiwan’s military has grown used to the daily task of tracking Chinese warplanes flying near the island. Some days there are a handful. On others, many more. But they are a near-constant presence.
TL;DR
- Chinese military aircraft, usually a daily presence near Taiwan, were absent for nearly two weeks.
- This period marked the longest pause in Chinese air activity near Taiwan since data collection began in 2020.
- Possible explanations for the lull include avoiding escalation before a Xi Jinping-Donald Trump meeting, and the conclusion of China's 'Two Sessions' parliamentary meetings.
- Taiwan's defense minister emphasized that Chinese naval activity continued during this period.
- The return of a small number of aircraft coincided with a US Navy surveillance flight through the Taiwan Strait.