| Date | 2 Feb 2023 |
| Tracker | China-Taiwan Tensions |
| Type | Infrastructure |
| Location |
Matsu Islands, Taiwan
26.16, 119.95 (approximate) |
The two undersea telecom cables linking Taiwan's Matsu Islands to Taiwan proper were severed six days apart, the first on February 2, 2023 by a Chinese fishing vessel and the second on February 8 by an unidentified cargo ship, according to Taiwanese authorities. Matsu's roughly 13,000 residents were left with severely degraded connectivity for about 50 days until a repair ship restored service in late March. Taipei stopped short of calling the cuts deliberate but accelerated backup microwave and satellite links.
| Series | That day | Prior 30-day avg | Week after vs before |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADIZ aircraft | 5 +4% | 4.8 | -73% (44 → 12) |
| Aircraft detected | 14 +11% | 12.6 | -42% (90 → 52) |
| PLAN ships | 4 +11% | 3.6 | -9% (32 → 29) |
| Date | Type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 2022 | Exercise | China launches unprecedented live-fire exercises encircling Taiwan after Pelosi visit |
| 1 Sep 2022 | Interception | Taiwan shoots down Chinese drone over Kinmen islet in first such intercept |
| 8 Apr 2023 | Exercise | China launches Joint Sword exercises encircling Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meeting |
| 2 Jan 2024 | Incursion | Chinese high-altitude balloon crosses over Taiwan island for first time amid overflight campaign |
Taiwan's Cabinet on September 3, 2026 approved a NT$145.7 billion (US$4.6 billion) defense allocation within a NT$607.63 billion supplementary budget, covering two classified programs, three uncrewed-systems programs and the Chiang Kung anti-ballistic missile system, pending a legislative vote.
President Lai Ching-te's government will ask the Legislative Yuan for NT$1.1225 trillion ($35.2 billion) in defense spending for 2027, the first Taiwanese military budget above NT$1 trillion and the first to exceed 3 percent of GDP.
Chinese military aircraft entering Taiwan's air defense identification zone fell 52 percent in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, according to Taiwan's daily defense ministry reports — while PLA Navy vessel sightings dropped just 7 percent.