PLATracker

Monitoring Chinese military activity and regional security developments in the Indo-Pacific.

[PLATracker @PLATracker]

Today is the official launch of PLATracker, a site dedicated to providing data-driven analysis of Chinese military activity and regional security developments in Asia.
https://t.co/VXDv78ZxYB

[Ben Lewis 🇺🇦 @OfficialBen_L]

China’s recent maritime law enforcement activities fit into a broader pattern of behavior that could have dangerous implications for region.

Glad to share some thoughts with @AaronMatthew_L on behalf of @PLATracker.

[Ben Lewis 🇺🇦 @OfficialBen_L]

@PLATracker's Taiwan ADIZ Violations Tracker is up to date. Apologies for the lapse!

You can find it and others at https://t.co/fbkHcRyvBK

[Will Ripley @willripleyCNN]

For nearly two weeks, Chinese fighter jets stopped buzzing Taiwan. It’s the longest lull since Taipei began releasing daily military data.

Today, five planes appeared. The pause baffled observers. So why did it happen? And is it over?

w/ @whannyuanc

https://t.co/N7yrjjJEus

[Drew Thompson 唐安竹 @TangAnZhu]

Tight piece by @joyuwang @WSJ on recent shifts in China's military operations around Taiwan.

Some nuggets:

“A period of this length with little or no air activity, while maritime activity remains consistent, is highly unusual,” said @OfficialBen_L, whose research organization, @PLATracker, documents Chinese military activity.

“Everybody has a theory, but nobody has an answer,” said Drew Thompson, a former Pentagon official responsible for China and Taiwan and now a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies @RSIS_NTU. “The weapon is uncertainty.”

“What concerns me is we don’t know what it means,” he said. “It’s perpetual threats without communication, without dialogue, without thresholds.”

@MoNDefense Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo said Tuesday that the Taiwanese military remains vigilant because “Beijing’s intent to annex us remains.”

“We cannot rely on a single indicator like the absence of aircraft. Chinese naval vessels still surround us daily,” Koo said.

[Ben Lewis 🇺🇦 @OfficialBen_L]

Glad to share some thoughts with @GregTorode on a development that is as bizarre as it is problematic.

[Aaron-Matthew Lariosa @AaronMatthew_L]

U.S. and Philippine officials agreed to step up their collective defense efforts in support of first island chain deterrence initiatives last week, indicating a new dimension of the alliance going beyond the SCS. Includes some insight from @OfficialBen_L:
https://t.co/xFZ485bUMU

[BLUF: Artorias Podcast @BLUF_artorias]

In this episode, we are joined by @OfficialBen_L, Founder of @PLATracker, to go over various war game scenarios China might take to militarily seize Taiwan.

Spotify: https://t.co/yQchUGom2O

Apple: https://t.co/wFUrX7zt3t

[Ben Lewis 🇺🇦 @OfficialBen_L]

Taiwan MND reports that a PLA reconnaissance UAV was detected in the airspace surrounding Dongsha (Pratas), but departed following radio warnings.

In recent months, Dongsha has been the target of increased pressure from the PRC, specifically through the presence of the China Coast Guard, but this represents a significant escalation in coercion by Beijing.

[Ben Lewis 🇺🇦 @OfficialBen_L]

Thread detailing key trends in PLA air activity in Taiwan's ADIZ for 2025

Based on daily reports released by @MoNDefense, the total number of PLA aircraft tracked in Taiwan's ADIZ reporting area in 2025 was 3,764

+689 (+22%) from 2024
+2,792 (+287%) from 2021:

[Ben Lewis 🇺🇦 @OfficialBen_L]

Here is a quick graphic comparing the number of PLA flights into Taiwan's ADIZ reporting area during major exercises, using data from @PLATracker.

The largest single-day total of sorties into Taiwan's ADIZ reporting area occurred on 14 Oct 24, during Joint Sword 2024B.

[Ben Lewis 🇺🇦 @OfficialBen_L]

Thread covering Exercise Justice Mission 2025:
1/

[Ben Lewis 🇺🇦 @OfficialBen_L]

The PLA Eastern Theatre Command has announced Ex Justice Mission 2025 around Taiwan. The drills will include elements of the ETC Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force.

Chinese state media has released a map showing five large exercise zones surrounding Taiwan.

[Carson Keller @CarsonKell27632]

Happy to share my newest article with @PLATracker, focusing on the expanding role of the U.S. Army's 1st Multi-Domain Task Force in the Philippines.

https://t.co/z4memuc0bd

[PLATracker @PLATracker]

In the piece, @CarsonKell27632 explains how the U.S. Army's Typhon battery in the Philippines fits into a new cutting-edge formation, one designed to counter the PLA's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) network.

[PLATracker @PLATracker]

New from PLATracker:

Beyond the Typhon: 1st Multi-Domain Task Force and Sea Denial in the Philippines

Written by @CarsonKell27632
https://t.co/WCG9Izty3X

[Jaime Ocon 歐海美 @JaimeOcon1]

BREAKING NEWS: The U.S. approves an $11.1B arms sale package to Taiwan, the largest in its history. That includes:

82 HIMARS (High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems)
– Part of a package worth more than $4 billion (combined with ATACMS)

420 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems)
– Included in the same package worth more than $4 billion (with HIMARS)

60 self-propelled howitzer systems + related equipment
– Worth more than $4 billion

UAV systems
– Valued at more than $1 billion

Military software
– Valued at more than $1 billion

Javelin missiles and TOW missiles
– Worth more than $700 million (combined)

Helicopter spare parts
– $96 million

Refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles
– $91 million

[Naval News @navalnewscom]

Philippine and Taiwanese Coast Guard officials met in Manila this week to discuss potential maritime security cooperation activities 🇵🇭 🇹🇼
Story by @AaronMatthew_L / comments by @PLATracker
https://t.co/T9X0VqGzaB

[AllSource Analysis @AllSourceA]

AllSource has identified and assessed the JDME Shipyard in Taixing City, China to be a critical component in the development of Chinese naval simulation technology supporting weapons development programs.

Key findings and full report: https://t.co/Lz2LZGnpYg

#GEOINT #China

[Andrew Erickson 艾立信 @AndrewSErickson]

Big Breaking PLA News! 9 Top Flag & General Officers Investigated & Expelled from Party & Military:

https://t.co/RSbky2S4Jm

1. General He Weidong, member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee & Vice Chairman of the CMC
2. Admiral Miao Hua, CMC Member & former Director, CMC Political Work Department [Background from @NavalWarCollege/@ChinaMaritime: https://t.co/hLF5n5rV4f]
3. General He Hongjun, former Executive Deputy Director, CMC Political Work Department
4. General Wang Xiubin, former Executive Deputy Director, CMC Joint Operations Command Center
5. General Lin Xiangyang, former Commander, Eastern Theater Command
6. General Qin Shutong, former Political Commissar, PLA Army
7. Admiral Yuan Huazhi, former Political Commissar, PLA Navy
[Background from #CMSI: https://t.co/c37XSk0xpm]
8. General/Former Vice Admiral Wang Houbin, former Commander, PLA Rocket Force
9. General Wang Chunning, former Commander, People's Armed Police Force

https://t.co/RSbky2S4Jm

He Weidong, Miao Hua, and nine others have been expelled from the Party and the military for serious violations of discipline and law.

Source: Ministry of National Defense Website Editor: Liu Shangjing 2025-10-17 17:15:00

On the afternoon of October 17, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, released information regarding recent military-related issues.

Zhang Xiaogang: Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the entire army and armed police force have resolutely implemented the decisions and directives of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, adhering to the principles of no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance, cracking down on corruption with a strong crackdown. The military's anti-corruption campaign has continued to advance in depth. With the approval of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, the Central Military Commission's Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision has launched investigations into nine individuals: He Weidong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission; Miao Hua, member of the CPC Central Military Commission and former Director of the Political Work Department of the CPC Central Military Commission; He Hongjun, former Executive Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the CPC Central Military Commission; Wang Xiubin, former Executive Deputy Director of the Joint Operations Command Center of the CPC Central Committee; Lin Xiangyang, former Commander of the Eastern Theater Command; Qin Shutong, former Political Commissar of the Army; Yuan Huazhi, former Political Commissar of the Navy; Wang Houbin, former Commander of the Rocket Force; and Wang Chunning, former Commander of the People's Armed Police Force. The investigation revealed that these nine individuals seriously violated Party discipline and were suspected of serious duty-related crimes involving an extremely large amount of money, of an extremely serious nature, and with extremely detrimental consequences. In accordance with relevant Party regulations and laws, the Party Central Committee has decided to expel these individuals from the Party and transfer the suspected crimes to military procuratorates for review and prosecution in accordance with law. Among them, eight Central Committee members—He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, Wang Xiubin, Lin Xiangyang, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, and Wang Chunning—were expelled from the Party, with the decision to be ratified at a plenary session of the Central Committee. The Central Military Commission had previously decided to expel the aforementioned nine individuals from the military. The severe investigation and punishment of He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, and others once again demonstrates the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission's unwavering resolve to persevere in the fight against corruption, underscoring their clear commitment to leaving no place for corrupt elements to hide in the military. This represents a significant achievement in the Party and military's anti-corruption campaign, further strengthening the purity and cohesion of the People's Army and its combat effectiveness.

何卫东、苗华等9人严重违纪违法被开除党��军籍

来源：国防部网 责任编辑：刘上靖 2025-10-17 17:15:00

10月17日下午，国防部新闻发言人张晓刚大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。

张晓刚：党的十八大以来，全军和武警部队坚决贯彻党中央、中央军委决策指示，坚持无禁区、全覆盖、零容忍，重拳惩贪肃腐，军队反腐败斗争不断向纵深推进。经党中央、中央军委批准，中央军委纪委监委陆续对中央政治局委员、中央军委副主席何卫东，中央军委委员、军委政治工作部原主任苗华，军委政治工作部原常务副主任何宏军，军委联合作战指挥中心原常务副主任王秀斌，东部战区原司令员林向阳、陆军原政委秦树桐、海军原政委袁华智、火箭军原司令员王厚斌、武警部队原司令员王春宁9人立案审查调查。经查，这9人严重违反党的纪律，涉嫌严重职务犯罪，数额特别巨大，性质极为严重，影响极其恶劣，依据相关党内法规和法律法规，党中央决定给予9人开除党籍处分，将涉嫌犯罪问题移送军事检察机关依法审查起诉。其中，给予何卫东、苗华、何宏军、王秀斌、林向阳、秦树桐、袁华智、王春宁8名中央委员开除党籍处分，待召开中央委员会全体会议时予以追认。此前，中央军委已决定给予以上9人开除军籍处分。对何卫东、苗华、何宏军等人的严肃查处，再次表明了党中央、中央军委将反腐败斗争进行到底的坚定决心，彰显了军中绝不允许有腐败分子藏身之地的鲜明态度，是党和军队反腐败斗争取得的重大成果，人民军队��加纯洁巩固、更具强大凝聚力战斗力。

[Air Recognition @AirRecognition]

🇨🇳🇷🇺 #China plans to order 20 Il-78MK-90A tanker aircraft from #Russia by 2028
https://t.co/MsOzq8cluk
@someplaosint @Blackrussiantv @Dromercay @FaySue6 @La_souris_DA @TheGreyPatriot_ @PLATracker