China Deploys 42 Aircraft, 11 Warships Near Taiwan; 32 Aircraft Enter ADIZ

Increased Chinese Military Presence Near Taiwan

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported on Friday, February 13, 2026, that it had tracked a significant deployment of Chinese military assets near the island. Between 6 a.m. on Thursday and 6 a.m. on Friday, a total of 42 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval vessels were detected operating around Taiwan. Of these aircraft, 32 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in its northern, central, southwestern, and eastern sectors.

Taiwan's Response and ADIZ Context

In response to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) activity, Taiwan's armed forces deployed its own aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor the situation. The MND stated that the Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

An Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is an area of airspace unilaterally declared by a country to identify, locate, and control aircraft for national security purposes. It can extend beyond a nation's sovereign airspace to provide more time to respond to potential threats. Taiwan's ADIZ covers a substantial portion of the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas. The Taiwan Strait median line, while unofficial, has historically served as a de facto buffer between Taiwan and mainland China, though Beijing has increasingly disregarded it.

Broader Implications and China's Stance

These military maneuvers are part of a pattern of increased Chinese military activity around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. China has not ruled out the use of force to achieve what it calls 'reunification.' Such actions are often described as 'gray zone tactics,' designed to incrementally increase military pressure and presence without escalating to direct, large-scale conflict. China's consistent military presence aims to reinforce its narrative that the Taiwan Strait is an 'internal' Chinese waterway.

Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo has previously warned that the Taiwanese public risks becoming 'numb' to these daily pressure tactics, emphasizing that the threat remains real and requires continued vigilance and readiness. The frequency of these incursions has notably increased since September 2020.