March 17 saw China send 59 military aircraft and nine naval vessels towards Taiwan, marking a significant show of force after a brief period of relative calm, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported a day later.

According to Focus Taiwan reports, the latest routine intimidation tactics carried out by Beijing saw more than two dozen of the aircraft cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait, a de-facto boundary that Beijing has increasingly disregarded, while others entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ), according to a flight map released by the MND.

Adding to the heightened tensions brought about by the incursions, Taiwan also reported the presence of two high-altitude balloons drifting over waters north of the island nation at some point between early morning Monday and early Tuesday, March 17-18, the report says.

In response to the incursion, Taiwan is understood to have mobilised its own combat aircraft and naval patrols, while activating missile defence systems to monitor the Chinese movements. The MND later released video footage showing Taiwanese naval vessels shadowing Chinese warships Focus Taiwan reports. These included a Taiwanese destroyer keeping a close watch on China’s own advanced Type 052D destroyer.

Surveillance images also captured by Taiwan’s Air Force and Naval forces further documented the presence of Chinese attack drones and various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), reinforcing concerns over Beijing’s expanding use of drone warfare in the region.

The latest incursion coincides with Taiwan’s five-day "immediate response" military drill, which is designed to sharpen the island’s ability to react swiftly to sudden threats. The scale of China’s deployment – the largest in recent days – raises ever more specific questions about the extent to which Beijing is deliberately testing Taiwan’s defences by continually prodding and poking, potentially in preparation for eventual military action against the island.

Prior to the March 17 territorial incursions, China had maintained a noticeably lower level of activity in the previous four days Focus Taiwan said citing MND data.

China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has significantly expanded its capabilities in recent years, modernising its air force and naval fleet to project power across the region. Ongoing territorial conflicts have led to standoffs in several areas of the South China Sea in recent years as Beijing looks to expand its influence in the region.

The deployment of the Type 052D destroyer as one of China’s most capable multi-role warships further points to Beijing’s ability to conduct sophisticated maritime operations in the oceans near Taiwan.

Furthermore, China’s increasing use of UAVs reflects a broader shift towards high-tech, asymmetric warfare as has been seen in Russia. By employing drones for reconnaissance and potential strike missions, the PLA can exert indirect pressure on Taiwan without committing traditional manned aircraft to risky incursions.

While Beijing insists its military operations are routine exercises aimed at defending its own sovereignty, such manoeuvres are widely viewed as part of a broader strategy to wear down Taiwan’s defences and assert control over the contested air and maritime space.

The latest escalation follows a familiar pattern of military coercion, with analysts suggesting that China is likely to maintain or even intensify in the coming months and years.

In Taiwan, meanwhile, as a self-governing democracy, the constant military pressure from China, which views the island as a breakaway province, is showing as Taipei repeatedly works to raise awareness of the issue with the international community.

The United States, Japan and countries in Europe have repeatedly urged Beijing to exercise restraint, warning that aggressive actions risk destabilising the region. However, with the PLA’s capabilities continuing to expand and Beijing showing no signs of relenting, Taiwan’s defence forces face an increasingly complex challenge in safeguarding the island’s security.