The biggest manoeuvres in decades: China sent dozens of planes, ships, and balloons to Taiwan
Authorities in Taiwan have described the communist regime's latest military movements near the island as China's largest military manoeuvres since the 1990s. The defence ministry reported that fifty aircraft entered Taiwan’s airspace in a single day, accompanied by ninety ships in a wider area, as well as spy balloons. Although Beijing has not officially announced any exercises, it reserves the right to conduct similar operations near the claimed territory at any time and annex it if deemed necessary. Following several days of these provocations, Taipei announced that Chinese forces had begun withdrawing—once again without offering an explanation.
In terms of scale, these manoeuvres represented the most significant demonstration of Chinese power in Taiwan’s modern history. Over a 24-hour period, authorities from the island state, officially known as the Republic of China, recorded 53 aircraft operating in and around its airspace. Approximately 90 vessels, including those from the coast guard and other agencies, participated in the exercises, spanning from Japan’s southern islands to the South China Sea. These operations were augmented by four balloons, one of which flew over the northern tip of the island. Although Taiwanese citizens are accustomed to the persistent threat of invasion, such a sudden escalation underscores growing support within China for military alternatives. Taiwanese leaders note parallels with other global events, particularly the increased Russian military maneuvers observed before its invasion of Ukraine.
"China's military actions are a shameful disruption to regional stability, and Beijing should cease all provocative acts," stated the office of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, whom China labels a separatist, according to Reuters. "It is customary for Taiwanese presidents to make overseas trips, and Taiwan's normal international relations with other countries are not a pretext for Chinese provocations," added the president's spokesperson. These comments referred to Lai's recent stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam, during which he visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and emphasized the importance of U.S.-Taiwan collaboration to prevent war.
The Taiwanese defence ministry reported that Chinese forces appeared to rehearse blockades of sea lanes and attacks on foreign vessels, maneuvers likely to be implemented in the event of a decision to militarily occupy the island. However, Western allies are cautiously optimistic, as the Chinese navy and coast guard began returning to mainland ports after a few days, along with the aircraft. "All Chinese vessels returned to China yesterday. Although there has been no official announcement, we consider the exercises concluded," said Taiwan’s Deputy Coast Guard Chief Hsieh Ching-chin to AFP.
"Whether or not we hold exercises and when we conduct them are decisions solely determined by our needs and circumstances," stated Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defence, in an official release that did not explicitly refer to the recent operations. "Preserving national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, and the common aspirations of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait are sacred military duties. The People's Liberation Army will not hesitate to overthrow Taiwan’s ‘independence’ and promote reunification,” Wu added.
An unnamed senior Taiwanese security official, speaking to Reuters, revealed that it took China nearly 70 days to plan these maneuvers. The official speculated that the exercises were designed to send a strong message to the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump. “They are drawing a red line and asserting authority to the new White House administration,” the source stated, noting the unusual timing of the maneuvers, which coincided with rough seas and challenging weather conditions.
President Lai and his government firmly reject Beijing’s claims, asserting that only the people of Taiwan can decide the nation’s sovereignty and future. While the self-governing democracy of 23 million people is claimed by China as its territory, it is not officially recognized by most of the world due to Beijing's influence. However, countries in the West, including the United States and the Czech Republic, support Taiwan both economically and politically, maintaining unofficial diplomatic relations. The U.S., Taiwan’s largest partner, provides critical military supplies. Yet, despite these efforts, the challenge of facing China’s vast military, with over 3 million personnel, remains daunting. Nevertheless, Taiwan continues to prepare for such a scenario with increasingly realistic strategies.
