Taipei has raised alarm over China’s largest-ever display of military might near its shores, warning of increasing risks to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. On Monday, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted military exercises around Taiwan involving 153 aircraft and 36 naval and coastguard vessels, setting single-day records and reinforcing fears of an imminent threat.
Taiwan’s national security officials expressed concern over the scale and intensity of exercises, which underscored the growing pressure the island faces from its much larger neighbor. A senior Taiwanese official noted that the unprecedented display of force demonstrated “just how serious the threat to Taiwan was on that day and how big the pressure was.” The official urged the international community to condemn China for failing to announce exercises ahead of time, a move seen as a violation of international norms.
Calls for Global Action
official emphasized broader implications of China’s maneuvers, stressing that peace in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global stability. “We want to remind the international community that peace and stability in Taiwan Strait is related to global peace and prosperity,” he said. Taiwan hopes that democracies worldwide will denounce China’s actions, which it views as a violation of the United Nations Charter’s principles against using force to resolve disputes.
Taipei has long been urging its allies, including the United States, to strengthen deterrence measures against Beijing’s growing military presence. Monday’s exercises highlighted the critical role of U.S. and allied military operations in the region, aimed at asserting freedom of navigation and preventing China from exerting control over international waters and airspace. However, Taiwanese officials caution that Beijing’s ability to launch a military assault on Taiwan with little or no warning is becoming a more serious possibility.
Escalating Military Tensions
Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to annex the self-governing island by force if it refuses to submit indefinitely to Chinese control. Taiwan’s defense minister recently warned that Beijing’s growing operations in surrounding airspace and waters have blurred lines between routine drills and preparations for war. The increasing frequency of China’s military activities—often categorized as “grey zone” tactics, which stop short of open conflict—has become a major concern for Taiwanese defense strategists.
In 2019, China conducted fewer than 20 air sorties into Taiwan’s self-declared air defense identification zone. In stark contrast, this year alone, there have been over 2,400 such incursions. While these activities remain outside of Taiwan’s sovereign airspace, making them legally ambiguous, their sheer frequency has posed a challenge for Taiwan and the U.S., which have struggled to formulate an effective counter-strategy.
Taiwan Relations Act and U.S. Involvement
The United States remains a critical ally for Taiwan, especially under the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act, which commits Washington to provide the island with defensive weapons. The act also establishes that any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future by non-peaceful means would be of “grave concern” to U.S. President Joe Biden has publicly stated that the U.S. would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack, though his administration has recently narrowed the scope of arms sales to munitions essential for resisting a potential invasion. This policy shift has drawn criticism from some in Taiwan, who argue that it undermines our ability to counter China’s escalating pressure.
Monday’s military drills brought this issue into sharp relief. Taiwanese military officials noted that China’s exercises not only involved record numbers of aircraft and ships but also featured maneuvers designed to practice a blockade of Taiwan’s key ports and military installations. This marked an escalation from Beijing’s 2022 military drills, which were seen as punishment for Taiwan hosting n-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
A Growing Threat to Regional Security
While Taiwanese officials stressed that they do not believe war is imminent, they acknowledged that China’s capacity to swiftly switch from exercises to actual combat has grown significantly. Of particular concern as the presence of 25 Chinese naval and coastguard vessels that came within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan’s coast—an area Taipei considers critical to its defense against potential attacks on its sovereign waters.
China also included its Rocket Force, responsible for missile operations, in military exercises. Although no missiles were launched in Taiwan’s direction during Monday’s drills, Beijing’s apparent practice of missile operations, coupled with two inland missile launches, heightened a sense of urgency in Taipei.
Foreign analysts were divided on the significance of the inland missile launches, with some suggesting no direct connection to Taiwan drills. However, Taiwanese officials asserted that the simultaneity of missile activity and drills left little room for doubt that China was simulating scenarios for a potential conflict with Taiwan.
Conclusion
As China continues to ramp up its military pressure on Taiwan, Taipei faces growing challenges in discerning Beijing’s intentions. The recent surge in military exercises has only intensified concerns that China is preparing for an eventual military confrontation. While Taiwan continuesstrengthenengn its defenses, its leaders are calling on the international community to take a more assertive stance against China’s provocative actions.
coming months will likely prove crucial for Taiwan’s security as the island seeks to balance its military readiness with diplomatic efforts to maintain peace in the region. But with China showing no signs of easing its press a e, threat to Taiwan’s sovereignty remains as pressing as ever.
