PLA ramps up Taiwan patrols after lull as Beijing slams Lai’s ‘independence confession’

2026.03.16 11:20 Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te (right) says that with the island’s economic growth, it can “absolutely afford” a proposed US$39 billion special defence budget. Photo: Reuters The People’s Liberation Army ramped up aircraft sorties near Taiwan over the weekend, ending two weeks of relative calm just as a defiant speech by Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te drew a strong rebuke from Beijing. From 6am on Saturday to 6am on Sunday, Taiwan detected 26 PLA aircraft sorties operating around the island. Sixteen of these entered the island’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ), according to data released by Taiwan’s defence ministry on Sunday. The 26 sorties marked a peak since February 26, when Taiwan recorded 30 PLA sorties. PLA activity near the island had slowed recently, including a seven-day lull – the longest such pause since at least 2023, according to the South China Morning Post’s tally based on Taiwanese data. Analysts said the pause might have been due to several factors, including US President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing later this month, as well as comments by Lai last month that might have signalled his caution towards Beijing. Taiwan reported two PLA sorties on Monday. The surge over the weekend coincided with Lai’s speech at an event marking the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct election. In his Saturday speech, Lai said the direct elections “demonstrated that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country”. He added that the island must strengthen its defence capabilities in response to threats from mainland China. Lai said he had allocated a special defence budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39 billion) over eight years, averaging NT$156 billion per year. “With Taiwan’s economic growth, we can absolutely afford it,” he said. Beijing’s reaction was quick and strong. Later on Saturday, Chen Binhua, spokesman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, described Lai’s speech as a “Taiwan independence confession”, saying it fully expo

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