China's muscle flexing continues as Taiwan's military reacts to the discovery of dozens of fighter jets with heightened alert. Large-scale Chinese military maneuvers around Taiwan have ignited concerns globally. Taiwan's Ministry of Defense reported that 49 combat aircraft, 19 warships, and seven Chinese coast guard ships were spotted near the island, with 35 planes crossing the median line—the unofficial border between China and Taiwan. In response, Taiwan has deployed fighter jets, warships, and missile systems along the coast.
The People's Republic of China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has been sending fighter jets and warships into the region almost daily for years, intimidating the island republic's residents. Despite these frequent maneuvers, the number of aircraft reported this time has not yet been seen this year. China aims to annex Taiwan using military force if peaceful unification fails, although an overwhelming majority of Taiwanese prefer to maintain the status quo rather than join China.
China's recent military exercises began on Thursday in response to the swearing-in of President Lai Ching-te, a Beijing critic. According to a Chinese military spokesman, the exercises will test the 'ability to jointly seize power, carry out joint attacks, and control key areas.' Despite the exercises, experts believe the risk of further escalation is low, given the maneuvers are shorter and smaller than those seen during Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in summer 2022.
Beijing considers President Lai Ching-te a 'dangerous separatist' and accuses him of pushing for Taiwan's official independence. However, President Lai has stated multiple times that he does not intend to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. has called on China to exercise restraint, labeling the actions as 'reckless' and destabilizing. The U.S. supports Taiwan by providing defense weapons despite lacking formal diplomatic relations.
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) stated that the military exercises, including the army, navy, air force, and rocket force, are directed at testing the capability to conduct joint missions. This extensive military activity comes days after Lai Ching-te's inauguration, which Beijing interpreted as an affirmation of Taiwan's independence. Moreover, these drills included the Chinese coast guard, operating near Taiwanese outlying islands.
- The current exercises are the largest in over a year and follow a series of heightened tensions between China and Taiwan. They also reflect China's increasing assertiveness under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who has stressed the 'inevitable reunification' with Taiwan.
- The United Nations has urged all parties to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions. The situation is being closely monitored by the U.S., which has called for restraint from China. Beijing asserts it prefers a peaceful reunification but does not rule out using force to achieve this goal.
