Taiwan ADIZ Violations in 2021 — Monthly Totals, Peak Days and Records
Overview
Every PLA aircraft that Taiwan's ministry of national defense reported inside its air defense identification zone during 2021, month by month: the busiest days, how the year compares with the rest of the campaign, and the incidents behind the spikes.
2021 Month by Month
| Month | Total | Daily avg | Peak day |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 81 | 2.6 | 15 · 24 Jan |
| February | 40 | 1.4 | 11 · 20 Feb |
| March | 54 | 1.7 | 20 · 26 Mar |
| April | 107 | 3.6 | 25 · 12 Apr |
| May | 29 | 0.9 | 4 · 20 May |
| June | 43 | 1.4 | 28 · 15 Jun |
| July | 17 | 0.5 | 2 · 2 Jul |
| August | 34 | 1.1 | 11 · 17 Aug |
| September | 117 | 3.9 | 24 · 23 Sep |
| October | 196 | 6.3 | 56 · 4 Oct |
| November | 168 | 5.6 | 27 · 28 Nov |
| December | 86 | 2.8 | 13 · 10 Dec |
Busiest Days of 2021
| Date | ADIZ aircraft | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 4 October | 56 | China sends record 149 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ over four days, peaking at 56 on Octob… |
| 2 October | 39 | China sends record 149 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ over four days, peaking at 56 on Octob… |
| 1 October | 38 | China sends record 149 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ over four days, peaking at 56 on Octob… |
| 15 June | 28 | No incident logged within 3 days |
| 28 November | 27 | No incident logged within 3 days |
| 12 April | 25 | No incident logged within 3 days |
| 23 September | 24 | No incident logged within 3 days |
| 26 March | 20 | No incident logged within 3 days |
| 5 September | 19 | No incident logged within 3 days |
| 3 October | 16 | China sends record 149 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ over four days, peaking at 56 on Octob… |
Incidents Logged in 2021
| Date | Type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct | Incursion | China sends record 149 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ over four days, peaking at 56 on October 4 |
Reading the Numbers
2021 recorded 972 aircraft, an average of 2.7 per day. That is 472% above the 170 recorded in 2020.
Among the 5 complete years on record, 2021 ranks as the quietest.
The busiest month was October with 196 aircraft. It coincides with a logged incident: China sends record 149 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ over four days, peaking at 56 on October 4.
The peak day of the year — 56 aircraft on October 4 — compares with the year's daily average of 2.7. Activity was reported on 240 of the 365 days covered (66%).
The longest pause of the year was 10 consecutive days without a single reported entry, starting July 29.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PLA aircraft in Taiwan's ADIZ were recorded in 2021?
972 aircraft were recorded over the course of 2021, an average of 2.7 per day.
What was the busiest day of 2021?
The peak was 56 aircraft on October 4, 2021. It came within days of a logged incident: China sends record 149 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ over four days, peaking at 56 on October 4.
How does 2021 compare with 2020?
2021's total of 972 is 472% higher than the 170 recorded in 2020.
Sources: Taiwan Ministry of National Defense - PLA activities reports · Gerald C. Brown & Benjamin Lewis, Taiwan ADIZ Violations, PLATracker