The Ministry of National Defense reported a rapid sequence of military movements around Taiwan, with four Chinese military aircraft and three navy ships tracked from 6:00 a.m. Sunday, February 26, through 6:00 a.m. Monday, February 27. The disclosure came via Taiwan News, citing an official statement from the army. In response to the activity, Taiwan deployed combat air patrols, naval vessels, and land-based missile alerts to monitor and deter any potential escalation.
During the 24-hour window, there was no crossing of the median line of the Taiwan Strait by PLA aircraft, and none entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone. This pattern aligns with a broader period of heightened maritime and aerial activity in the region, which has been observed as part of ongoing regional security dynamics and military signaling between Beijing and Taipei.
Collectively for February, Beijing dispatched 311 military aircraft and 109 naval ships toward Taiwan. Since September 2020, authorities have noted a growth in gray zone tactics, with regular air incursions and maritime movements designed to test reaction times, readiness, and deterrence capabilities without triggering a full-scale conflict. These actions have prompted ongoing adjustments in Taiwan’s defense postures and alliance consultations among regional partners.
In another development, prior reports indicated that the Marine Aviation Regiment of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted a submarine search exercise. The exercise aimed to enhance the troops’ tactical proficiency and overall combat readiness, reflecting sustained emphasis on undersea awareness and joint operations. Images associated with the exercise reportedly featured Shaanxi Y-8GX-6 aircraft, a platform derived from the Soviet-era An-12 transport design. The presence of these aircraft suggested a broad exercise footprint and a focus on multi-domain coordination during the drill, underscoring PLA emphasis on expanding its maritime and air capabilities in the vicinity of Taiwan. These events contribute to a broader understanding of the regional security environment, where military demonstrations are used to signal capability and resolve while exhibitions of force are calibrated to avoid unintended escalations.