March 16th, 2026
- USCSSO @GWU
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Overview
This week, we discuss the opening of a rail link between Beijing and Pyongyang, and the resumption of Chinese military aircraft operating around Taiwan.
Diplomacy
Train to Pyongyang: K27 Train Service Reopens After 6 Years
By Newsletter Director Jason Holman
On March 12th a passenger train departed from Beijing to Pyongyang, the first trip since 2020.
Passengers board the K27 train at the Beijing Railway Station on March 12, the train is bound for Pyongyang, North Korea. (NBC)
K27: On March 12th the K27 train, a passenger train running from Beijing to Pyongyang, launched for the first time in 6 years. The two way service will begin running four days a week beginning this week. This marks the first people-to-people exchange between the two nations since North Korea shut down during the pandemic. The initial voyage had tickets reportedly sold-out. However, so far it seems that most passengers are not making the whole trip to Pyongyang. Instead many are stopping at the Chinese town of Dadong.
Cultural Exchange: The implementation of the new K27 train also includes a line between Dadong and Pyongyang running on a daily basis. Both sides have emphasized that the new rail link will foster between person-to-person interactions, bonding the populations of the two nations. The line will allow Chinese and North Korean citizens to work and study within each other's countries. Additionally it will allow North Koreans to visit family living in China. The city of Dadong has a population of over 80,000 North Korean residents.
Beijing Orbit: While it may seem minor the new raillink is both a symbolic and physical sign of the close relationship between Beijing and Pyongyang. Prior to the pandemic China accounted for 90% of the visits to the Democratic People’s Republic . The DPRK, already an isolated nation, closed itself off completely during the pandemic. It came as a shock to many observers that the first group of tourists to enter North Korea in 2024 were Russians and not Chinese. Beyond tourism China remains a large partner to the DPRK, trade between the nations amounting to $2.3 billion in 2024. At a time when several of China’s allies have come under attack. The railway represents Xi’s interest in recommitting to more traditional diplomatic ties for China. Additionally, Air China announced it would resume Beijing to North Korean flights at the end of March.
Defense
Thirteen Days Absence: Military Flights Over Taiwan Resume
By Newsletter Director Jason Holman
On March 15th Taiwan reported a surge in PLA military planes near the island after an unprecedented 13 days of absence.
Televised News in Beijing April 1st 2025 after joint army, navy, air, and rocket force drills around Taiwan by the PLA. (via. Taipei Times)
Resurgence: On March 15th the Taiwanese Defense Ministry reported an observation of 26 military aircraft in Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) alongside 7 naval ships near the island. These numbers haven't been spotted since Beijing held a joint combat readiness patrol on Feb. 25, with 30 aircraft being spotted. This came after zero aircraft were spotted in the region between February 27th and March 5th, and only 2 aircraft were reported on March 6th. This represents the largest gap in aircraft presence in the region since 2021.
Military Flights: Since 2020 China has used routine exercises of Chinese aircraft to cross the Taipei Straight into Taiwan’s ADIZ to put pressure on the island. In 2025 there were on average 10 Chinese military lights a day over Taiwan. However in 2026 there have been only 460 military planes in the ADIZ, which is a 46.5% decrease from 2025. February 2026 saw only 190 flights, the lowest in a month since 2022. Prior to the recent observation there had been only 7 aircraft observed over the course of 2 weeks, the same time period in 2025 saw 92 flights.
Military & Politics: There have been lulls in Chinese flights in the past. Often they have been due to festivals, weather and political events. There have been several major military purges in the Chinese Air Force and Eastern Theater Command, which encompasses Taiwan. This, as well as Chinese attempts to adjust to lessons from recent large drills and attempts to explore a new model of joint training could be reasons for the lull in flights. There have also been political reasons. Outside of China’s recent legislative meeting the country is also prepared for a visit by US President Trump. The US announced the visit will occur between March 31st and April 2nd. Trump has delayed a multibillion dollar arms sale to Taiwan. China’s lessening of air activity (which is often seen as a politically sensitive topic) could be an attempt to ease tensions ahead of the meeting in a similar way.
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