By On February 16, 2025, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported the detection of 24 Chinese military aircraft operating near the island. These aircraft were part of joint combat readiness patrols conducted alongside Chinese naval vessels in the surrounding region. This activity coincided with the transit of a Canadian warship through the Taiwan Strait, marking the first such passage by a Canadian naval vessel this year. During the transit, Chinese military personnel radioed the Canadian ship, instructing it to alter its course. The United States and its allies, including Canada, routinely navigate the 180-kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait to affirm its status as international waters, a practice that consistently provokes disapproval from Beijing.
In the days leading up to this event, Taiwan observed increased Chinese military activity in the area. Data from the defense ministry indicated that 62 Chinese military aircraft were detected near the island in the 48 hours preceding 6:00 am on February 16, 2025. This surge in activity coincided with the transit of two U.S. naval vessels—a destroyer and an ocean survey ship—through the Taiwan Strait starting on February 10. China’s military criticized these transits, asserting that they sent “wrong signals and increased security risks.” T
hese developments occur amidst heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with China intensifying military pressure on Taiwan through frequent air and naval operations. Beijing asserts sovereignty over the democratically governed island and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve unification. In response, Taiwan maintains that its future should be determined solely by its people and continues to strengthen its defense capabilities to counter potential threats.
