Recent Chinese military activity around Taiwan marked one of the most intense single-day episodes in years, featuring a large-scale deployment of air and sea assets that actively compressed the island's defensive space According to reports from Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on December 29, 2025, over 100 Chinese aircraft were detected operating near the island In a significant escalation, 90 of these aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, an unofficial boundary that has helped maintain stability for decades
The air operations were supported by a substantial maritime presence, including 13 warships from the People's Liberation Army Navy Crucially, the military vessels were joined by 14 official ships from the China Coast Guard and Maritime Safety Administration, blending military and law enforcement assets in the exercise As part of the drills, China also fired rockets into nearby waters, with 10 reported to have landed inside Taiwan's 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone Based on an analysis of the operation, the maneuvers appear to be part of a strategy to bypass traditional deterrence by using large-scale, intimidating drills that are deliberately calibrated to stop short of open conflict
Yasir Rai
