Taiwan Saw Over 1,700 Chinese Military Air Incursions in 2022: Report

Planes from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force fly in formation in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. Wang He/Getty Images

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reportedly sent more than 1,700 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense zone in 2022, according to a report, as the CCP intensified pressure on the self-governing island.

The CCP claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite Taiwan being an independent nation with a democratically elected government. The CCP has vowed to conquer Taiwan by force if necessary.

The CCP regularly uses its military to intimidate Taiwan, as seen on Christmas Day when it sent 71 planes and seven ships toward the island in its largest show of force since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August.

AFP reported that a total of 1,727 Chinese aircraft crossed into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone in 2022, surpassing 960 in 2021, citing data released by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.

According to the report, the number of fighter jet incursions conducted by Chinese aircraft targeting Taiwan increased from 538 in 2021 to 1,241 in 2022, while the number of bomber incursions rose from 60 in 2021 to 101 last year.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told The Guardian the CCP’s military threats against Taiwan have become “more serious than ever.”

“We are quite sure that the Chinese may want to use another pretext of practicing their future attacks against Taiwan. So this is a military threat against Taiwan,” Wu said.

Local media reported the CCP deployed 220 aircraft and 50 naval vessels around Taiwan in December alone.

Taiwan to Extend Military Service

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said on Dec. 27 that her nation would extend compulsory military service from four months to one year in 2024 in the wake of the growing military threat posed by the CCP.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a press conference at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Dec. 27, 2022. Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images

Tsai said that Taiwan wanted peace but needed to be able to defend itself.

“As long as Taiwan is strong enough, it will be the home of democracy and freedom all over the world, and it will not become a battlefield,” Tsai told a news conference announcing the decision to extend the conscription period, which she described as “incredibly difficult.”

The current military system, including training reservists, is inefficient and insufficient to cope with the CCP’s rising military threat, especially if it launched a rapid attack on the island, Tsai added.

“Taiwan wants to tell the world that between democracy and dictatorship, we firmly believe in democracy. Between war and peace, we insist on peace. Let us show the courage and determination to protect our homeland and defend democracy.”

Conscripts will undergo more intense training, including shooting exercises, combat instruction used by U.S. forces, and operating more powerful weapons including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and anti-tank missiles, Tsai said.

In her New Year’s address on Jan. 1, Tsai urged the CCP to return to dialogue and to cooperate in achieving regional stability across the Taiwan Strait, noting that the two countries faced common challenges.

Tsai said that Taiwan would be willing to help China deal with the COVID-19 surge following the CCP’s abrupt U-turn on its zero-COVID policy last month.

“War has never been a way to solve problems, and only through dialogue, cooperation, and joint efforts toward the goals of regional stability and development can we help more people enjoy security and happiness,” she remarked.

Reuters contributed to this report.