According to a report by the Financial Times, Chinese fighter jets employed dangerously provocative tactics towards Taiwanese aircraft during joint military exercises close to Taiwan last December. The report cites informed sources and a document shared by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense with the U.S. military, detailing at least three threatening incidents that occurred during these exercises. The nature of these incidents raises concerns regarding the escalating military tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

The first incident on December 29 saw a Chinese J-16 jet firing flares at a Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet. These flares are typically used to distract heat-seeking missiles, posing a direct threat to the Taiwanese aircraft. The Taiwanese jet had just taken off when the Chinese jet crossed an informal buffer zone that exists in the Taiwan Strait, illustrating the high tension and potential for conflict in this strategically sensitive area.

A second incident involved a Chinese J-16 flying extremely close behind a Taiwanese fighter, showcasing aggressive tactics that could potentially lead to a dangerous mid-air confrontation. The third incident involved a J-16 jet maneuvering in a way that indicates the readiness of the Chinese military to assert dominance in the region. Such provocative actions by China not only heighten the risk of miscalculation but also signify the ongoing militarization of the Taiwan Strait, which has serious implications for regional stability and international relations, particularly between the U.S. and China.