Guermantes Lailari On Taiwan: Chinese Drone Overflies Taiwan’s Airspace: New LawfareThe Chinese Communist Party (CCP) challenges and ignores the international rules-based order by violating Taiwanese airspace using a high-flying drone: This incident is a multi-layered challenge, including a lawfare challenge against the First Island Chain, the US, and the world. On July 28, 2022, a PLA reconnaissance drone appeared twice over Taiwan’s Dongyin Island, Matsu. As early as 2022, the ROC military was challenged by drone overflights of Taiwan’s islands close to China. However, these “innocent” PLA balloons could carry intelligence collection systems to investigate vulnerabilities and assist in war planning. Guermantes Lailari is a retired US Air Force Foreign Area Officer specializing in counterterrorism, irregular warfare, missile defense, and strategy.

Source: Taipei Times February 01, 2026 18:12 UTC