The Chinese circumnavigation flights around Taiwan using UAVs on 27 April and 2 May show that Beijing has increased confidence in these aircraft’s capabilities and endurance. (Taiwan MND/Japan MoD/Janes)

Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have encircled Taiwan twice in a one-week period.

The flights suggest that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is expanding the scope of its incursions into Taiwan’s air-defence identification zone (ADIZ).

The PLA has earlier conducted encircling flights around Taiwan, using XAC H-6 bombers, according to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND). However, the latest UAV flights are unique. They are the first recorded PLA circumnavigation flights since the MND began disclosing ADIZ incursions in September 2020. They are also the first to involve UAVs.