TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan saw its highest monthly number of Chinese naval ship sightings so far this year, while naval and aircraft detections are up over previous years.

On Thursday, Ian Ellis, founder of IEJ Media, posted an infographic on X showing PLAN ships were tracked 250 times in May, the most in one month since August 2024. PLAN ships have been tracked 1,100 times so far this year, a 20% increase from the same period last year. 

During major military exercises in the Western Pacific, China deployed 60 ships on May 21 and more than 70 on May 27. The Ministry of National Defense on May 28 said China's Liaoning aircraft carrier was detected in Taiwan's southeastern waters amid reports of PLA drills. 

China's state-run media outlet Global Times said on May 25 that Beijing’s next-generation aircraft carrier Fujian had begun its eighth sea trial. The maneuvers reportedly included testing the carrier's electromagnetic launch catapults.  

So far this year, Ellis said Taiwan detected PLA aircraft 2,200 times near the country, marking a 35% increase from the same period last year. Ellis noted that while PLA sorties in May dipped 2% from 2024, ADIZ intrusions continued an upward trajectory, rising by 20%.

Also in May, two Xian H-6 bombers landed on Woody Island (Yongxing Island), a Chinese coast guard vessel sideswiped a Philippine government ship, the Anhui amphibious task group patrolled southwest of Japan, and four Chinese coast guard ships sailed into Kinmen's restricted waters.