Taiwan’s defense authorities claim to be encircling the island, but this maneuver appears more like a game of hide-and-seek than a coherent strategic posture.

[Rapid Increase in PLA Vessels, Aircraft Nearly Encircle Taiwan]

On October 14, the Liaoning aircraft carrier group reappeared for training exercises. On the same day, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched a new round of joint combat readiness patrols in the Taiwan Strait. According to information released by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on October 15, during military activities on October 14, the PLA deployed a total of 15 aircraft sorties and 17 naval vessels operating around Taiwan’s surrounding waters. The flight and navigation routes of these assets nearly encircled the entire island.

Based on trajectory maps published by Taiwan’s military, the PLA aircraft movements indeed approached a full circumnavigation of Taiwan. One drone flew directly into eastern waters off Taiwan, traversing the entire eastern maritime zone, the Bashi Strait south of the island, and northern waters. Typically, such drones are used for reconnaissance missions, likely supporting the ongoing joint combat readiness patrols. Given that the Liaoning had already arrived in waters east of Taiwan to conduct carrier-based aircraft operations on October 14, it remains unclear whether this drone was also conducting coordinated drills with the carrier group.

While attention has often focused on aerial activity, the movement of naval vessels warrants particular scrutiny. Due to limited transparency from Taiwan’s military regarding the positioning of PLA vessels near Taiwan, precise deployment details remain ambiguous. However, the sheer number of vessels involved marks a notable departure from previous patterns. A total of 10 PLA warships were deployed, alongside seven mainland government vessels operating in the region. This represents the highest recorded level of mainland maritime activity near Taiwan in recent times. The sudden increase may be linked to the Liaoning’s entry into the Western Pacific for training exercises.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879110211355786/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.