The Financial Times reports that China has launched extensive military and coastguard exercises near Taiwan as part of its ongoing campaign to enforce its sovereignty claims and counter Taiwan’s efforts to maintain de facto independence. These exercises, occurring on Tuesday, coincide with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s initiatives to bolster military and civilian readiness against potential Chinese aggression, espionage, and infiltration.
According to statements by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), naval, air, ground, and missile units are involved in practicing comprehensive control, conducting strikes on sea and land targets, and executing blockade operations. In tandem, the China Coast Guard is carrying out “law enforcement patrols” aimed at inspecting, intercepting, and detaining unauthorized vessels.
The PLA frequently dispatches aircraft and ships near Taiwan’s airspace and waters, conducting what it describes as combat readiness patrols. Since Lai assumed office last May, China has organized several larger-scale exercises near Taiwan, the most recent of which was in mid-March, as part of a long-standing campaign of intimidation.
The latest operations reportedly involve significant maritime maneuvers. Taiwan’s defense ministry observed 19 PLA ships operating in the vicinity of Taiwan from Monday through Tuesday morning. On Monday, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong entered Taiwan’s self-declared response zone, an area where the Taiwanese military monitors foreign military movements. By Tuesday, the carrier had approached within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan’s coast, a record proximity.
The Chinese coastguard described its drills as measures to enforce jurisdiction and control over Taiwan, aligned with the one-China principle, with a map showing at least three flotillas active around the island. By late Tuesday morning, there were no instances of Chinese coastguard vessels intercepting or detaining ships; however, any interference with commercial shipping in the Taiwan Strait could potentially disrupt one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command responsible for operations around Taiwan, stated that the drills serve as a severe warning against the separatist forces supporting Taiwan’s independence.
In response to escalating regional tensions, Lai has focused on enhancing Taiwan’s defense capabilities, conducting the most extensive civil defense drills in decades, and announcing plans to resume military trials in peacetime to counter Chinese influence operations.
Taiwan’s defense ministry criticized China’s increased military activities as a challenge to international order and regional stability, labeling Beijing as a “troublemaker” in the international community’s view.
The American Institute in Taiwan, essentially the US embassy, reiterated Washington’s commitment to supporting Taiwan against China’s military, economic, informational, and diplomatic pressure. The US remains the only nation actively backing Taiwan’s security, though former President Donald Trump has previously accused Taiwan of exploiting America’s defense support and harming the US semiconductor industry.
The institute stated that China’s actions demonstrate its irresponsibility and disregard for regional security and prosperity, describing the military operations near Taiwan as unjustifiable.