China’s ship deployments around Taiwan reach record pace in August 2026

Chinese government ships circled Taiwan in record numbers through July and August 2026. Taiwan's Coast Guard Authority counted 244 PRC government ships in July, not including warships. That is more than four times the 58 recorded in July 2025. The pace continued into August.

The first 21 days of August added another 152. About 60 percent were coast guard cutters. Research and government ships made up the rest. Since May 2026, the CGA has logged 1,247 PRC ships in waters around Taiwan and its outlying islands.

New territory. China conducted its first law enforcement patrol east of Taiwan in June 2026, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Coast guard ships entered restricted waters near Kinmen on August 5, 13, 19, and 29. Two ships also entered restricted waters around Pratas Island on August 18.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported that on September 1, one PLA aircraft entered Taiwan's northern air defense identification zone while five PLAN warships and three official ships operated in nearby waters.

Taiwan's defense ministry released its 2026 China Military Power Report on September 2. The report describes PLA training that targets joint blockade and control of Taiwan's air and sea routes. Exercises focus on maritime and air blockades, joint firepower strikes, and amphibious operations.

MarineRadar saw the activity. Unique-device views for the Taiwan area rose 3.5 times above the 48-hour baseline this week.

We covered the July figures in detail last week: Record 244 Chinese Government Ships Spotted Around Taiwan in July. August is following the same pattern.