PLA escalates drills near Taiwan to deter closer US ties, but analysts warn approach could backfire

Name: PLA scrambles record 71 warplanes near Taiwan in response to increased US military aid
Uploaded: 2023-01-25T14:00:15.000Z
Duration: 2 min 4 s
Description: PLA scrambles record 71 warplanes near Taiwan in response to increased US military aid

Beijing ramps up combat patrols this month after Washington increases military aid to the island

While intimidation campaign aims to send message to Taiwanese public, observers say it could drive support for US-Taiwan defence collaboration

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Washington approved a defence bill last month that will set up a military modernisation programme to help Taiwan deter PLA aggression. Photo: EPA-EFE

Minnie Chan

Published: 10:00pm, 25 Jan 2023Updated: 10:55pm, 25 Jan 2023

The People’s Liberation Army has ramped up combat patrols around Taiwan to deter Taipei from boosting defence ties with Washington, but observers warned Beijing’s increasing intimidation could cause backlash.

The PLA has sent more than 400 aircraft sorties and 80 vessels to carry out operations near Taiwan since Washington approved increased military aid for the island late last month, according to data released by Taiwan’s defence ministry.

The situation began to escalate on December 25, when 71 aircraft and seven vessels from the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, which oversees the Taiwan Strait, kicked off a joint combat operation in the air and waters around Taiwan.

02:04

PLA scrambles record 71 warplanes near Taiwan in response to increased US military aid

The drill came days after US President Joe Biden signed the 2023 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) into law, establishing a defence modernisation programme for Taiwan to deter PLA aggression.

Two weeks later, the PLA sent nearly 60 aircraft sorties and three warships to block three sides of the self-ruled island in a daily combat drill.

Eastern Theatre Command spokesman Shi Yi said the exercises were aimed at responding to the “military collusion” between Washington and Taipei.

Zhou Chenming, a researcher from the Beijing-based Yuan Wang military science and technology think tank, said Beijing intended to use military deterrence to dissuade Taipei from relying on US military aid.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x