After weeks of silence, Taiwan reported a large Chinese military aircraft presence near the island

Hong Kong — China’s defense ministry said on Sunday it had seen a surge of Chinese military aircraft near the island of Taiwan, sparking debate among observers after a sharp decline in flights over the past two weeks.

The ministry detected 26 Chinese military aircraft around the island on Saturday, 16 of which entered its central and southwestern air defense identification zone. It reported that seven naval vessels were spotted around the island.

The surge in flights came after the ministry reported a fall that left analysts scratching their heads over what could be China’s military.

Taiwan did not report any Chinese military aircraft crossing the median line and entering the zone from February 27 to March 5. After two were found on March 6, there were none for the next four days. Such flights resumed in small numbers between Wednesday and Friday.

The crash coincided with the annual meeting of China’s legislature. While in the past such flights have fallen during major events and public holidays, this year’s fall is more significant than in the past.

Analysts said the meeting could not be the only reason behind the recent decline. Another possible factor is the desire to calm the waters with Washington weeks before US President Donald Trump’s visit. The White House said Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2, but Beijing has not officially confirmed that.

Some observers have suggested that the decline could be caused by a shift to the next phase of China’s military training and modernization, as the army appears to be exploring a new model for joint training among its forces.

China has vowed to seize the island by force if necessary. Over the years, Beijing has sent warplanes and navy ships toward the island on a daily basis.

Taiwan’s military has previously indicated that it is not changing its defense posture due to a decline in Chinese fighter jet activity.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo previously noted that China’s navy remains active in nearby waters, despite the downed military aircraft.

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when the Communist Party came to power in Beijing after a civil war. Defeated Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan, which later transitioned from martial law to a multiparty democracy.