Taiwan says large-scale Chinese military flights returning after unusual absence

Taiwan’s defence ministry said it detected 26 Chinese military aircraft concentrated in the Taiwan Strait. Read more at straitstimes.com.

TAIPEI - Taiwan on March 15 reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities around the island after an unexplained absence of more than two weeks that prompted speculation in Taipei as to Beijing's motives.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, normally sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the island on a daily basis, with interruptions generally caused by bad weather.

Taiwan’s defence ministry, in a daily update on March 15, said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft, concentrated in the Taiwan Strait, over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many on Feb 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft after saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat readiness patrol”.

From Feb 27, Taiwan reported no Chinese military aircraft until March 7, when it said it spotted two aircraft to Taiwan’s far south-west. There have been only sporadic, small-scale incidents since then.

China has provided no explanation for its motives and did not respond to a further request for comment on March 15.

But China’s Taiwan Affairs Office late on March 14 lambasted Taiwan President Lai Ching-te for a speech that day discussing the need to boost defence spending and protect the island’s democracy.