No major PLA activity near Taiwan after ‘troublemaker’ Lai’s policy speech

The People’s Liberation Army has refrained from conducting a large-scale drill near Taiwan following its leader’s annual policy speech – an address seen as less provocative than last year’s, which drew sabre-rattling from Beijing.

Figures released by Taiwan’s defence ministry showed there was no increase in the number of PLA warplanes and warships detected near the island following William Lai Ching-te’s Double Tenth address on October 10.

According to the Taiwanese figures, the PLA conducted seven to 27 sorties per day in the week following Lai’s speech.

It was a different story last year, when the PLA responded with a show of force around the island in war games dubbed “Joint Sword-2024B” that involved 153 warplane sorties.

Beijing said at the time that the massive drill aimed to punish Taipei for its provocation.

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PLA launches blockade drills around Taiwan, days after speech by island’s leader

PLA launches blockade drills around Taiwan, days after speech by island’s leader

The most recent large-scale PLA exercise near Taiwan was on April 1, when its warplanes conducted 76 sorties in what Beijing said was a “serious warning” to “Taiwan independence forces”.