Is looming Xi-Trump summit behind the PLA’s break in air sorties near Taiwan?

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Amber WangMarch 5, 2026 at 07:07 AM

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For the first time in at least three years, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) did not send warplanes near Taiwan for six consecutive days, from Friday to Wednesday. This pause in air sorties, according to Taiwanese defense ministry data, is the longest in the past three years. While PLA naval vessel activity remained consistent, the absence of warplanes is a notable deviation from the near-daily maneuvers typically observed near the self-ruled island. A similar, though shorter, pause occurred in February around Chinese New Year. Analysts suggest this unusual restraint by Beijing may be connected to the upcoming summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump.

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South China Morning Post 40% Taipei 50% Taiwanese Defence Ministry 60% China 60% Beijing ×270% Xi Jinping ×290% Taiwan ×490% Donald Trump ×290% People's Liberation Army (PLA) ×595%

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xi-trump summit 90% pla air sorties 90% taiwan 80% people's liberation army 70% china 70% geopolitics 60% military activity 60% military restraint 60% united states 50%