Fear of defections may have stopped flightsBy Fang Wei-li and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could have held off flying military aircraft close to Taiwan over the past two weeks over fear of defections by pilots, Taiwanese researchers said yesterday. Photo: Xinhua via APDespite a near total absence of Chinese military aircraft in the areas surrounding Taiwan proper, the PLA deployed at least six ships every day, the experts said. The PLA stopped sending aircraft to the vicinity of Taiwan proper on Feb. 28, which continued for more than 10 consecutive days, they said. Compared with a ship’s commanding officers and sailors, fighter jet pilots could unilaterally decide to go rogue, they said. The safest way for the PLA to weather the annual plenary sessions without incident is to halt all activities that might allow defections to occur, they added.

Source: Taipei Times March 12, 2026 17:43 UTC