Recent Chinese Air, Naval Activities Around Taiwan: May 21-23, 2025
Over this period, 58 PLA aircraft and 23 Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were detected, with 41 aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
INDO-PACIFIC — From May 21 to May 23, 2025, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted extensive air and naval operations around Taiwan, as reported by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).
Over this period, 58 PLA aircraft and 23 Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were detected, with 41 aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
These activities, concentrated in key strategic areas, highlight ongoing tensions in the region and China’s efforts to assert its military presence near the island.
Acronym Index
• ADIZ: Air Defense Identification Zone
• CAP: Combat Air Patrol
• MND: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense
• PLA: Chinese People’s Liberation Army
• PLAN: Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy
• ROC: Republic of China (Taiwan)
• UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Historical Context
The Taiwan Strait has been a geopolitical focus since the Chinese Civil War concluded in 1949, when the Republic of China established control over Taiwan, while the People’s Republic of China claimed it as a province.
The median line, an informal boundary established to separate air and naval activities, has faced increasing crossings by PLA forces since 2020, reflecting China’s rejection of this demarcation. In 2024, Taiwan’s MND documented over 1,000 PLA aircraft incursions into its ADIZ, a sharp rise tied to political events such as Taiwan’s elections and U.S. military engagements.
The Strait’s strategic value is underscored by its role as a major shipping route, facilitating approximately 20% of global maritime trade annually.
Timeline of Key Events
• May 21, 2025, 06:00 UTC: Taiwan’s MND detected 15 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels, and 1 official ship. Seven aircraft crossed the median line into the southwestern ADIZ.
• May 22, 2025, 06:00 UTC: Detection of 23 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels occurred, with 19 aircraft crossing the median line into the northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ.
• May 23, 2025, 06:00 UTC: 20 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels were detected, with 16 aircraft crossing the median line into the northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ.
• May 22-23, 2025, 06:00–20:15 UTC: Additional sorties included helicopters and bombers northwest and east of Taiwan, near Matsu Dongyin, Wuqiu, Kinmen, and Dongsha Island.