# cross-strait tensions
Latest news and articles about cross-strait tensions
Total: 6 articles found
Beijing’s 24‑Hour Counterpunch to Lai Ching‑te: Diplomacy and Air Power Tighten the Noose
Beijing responded within 24 hours to Vice President Lai Ching‑te’s comments and Taiwan’s defence budget push with coordinated diplomatic rebuke and intensified PLA air‑sea patrols. The episode highlights the erosion of informal cross‑strait norms and the rising tempo of coercive signalling that raises the risk of miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait.
Close Calls Over the Strait: How PLA J-16 Tactics Signal a Shift from Deterrence to Control
A leaked Taiwanese note, published in the Financial Times, describes three close encounters in which PLA J-16s used flares, tailing maneuvers and radar masking to intimidate and control F-16s during last year’s drills. Analysts say these incidents reflect a tactical shift by Beijing from symbolic demonstrations to coercive control that raises the risk of miscalculation and complicates deterrence for Taiwan and its partners.
CCTV Footage Shows PLA’s Eastern Coast Missiles Kept Upright Around the Clock — A Signal of Readiness and Deterrence
CCTV aired footage of PLA missile units along China’s eastern coast keeping launchers upright around the clock and crews in sustained high-readiness. Presented as a deterrent against Taiwan independence and recent Taipei drills, the posture shortens launch timelines but raises logistical, safety and escalation risks.
Frigate at the Throat: PLA Patrols Tighten Grip on Taiwan’s Energy Lifelines as Taipei Expands Conscription
A recent confrontation off Penghu between a PLA frigate and a Taiwanese vessel highlights Beijing’s sustained maritime pressure on sea lanes that supply Taiwan’s major ports. Beijing’s stepped‑up air and naval activity has prompted Taipei to repurpose conscription into combat units, deepening domestic political strains while increasing the risk of miscalculation and economic disruption.
Taiwan’s Drone Mishap — Five-Second Failure Raises Questions About Readiness and Messaging
A Taiwanese military drone crashed within five seconds of launch on Jan. 29, 2026, and footage of the incident spread rapidly online and through mainland media. While technically likely to stem from propulsion, power or control-link failure, the episode has outsized significance for Taiwan’s deterrence posture, domestic politics and cross-strait information warfare.
Beijing Says Drone Flight Near Dongsha Was Lawful Training as Taipei Protests Incursion
Beijing says a PLA drone's flight within 12 nautical miles of Dongsha Island on January 21 was routine training and lawful, while Taipei condemned it as provocative and destabilising. The episode highlights the growing use of unmanned systems in cross‑strait grey‑zone operations and raises regional concerns about escalation and challenges to territorial norms.