China Expands Military Drills Around Taiwan in Latest Show of Force

Tuesday 01 April 2025 - 15:00

By: Zahouani Ilham

China Expands Military Drills Around Taiwan in Latest Show of Force

China's recent military exercises saw its army, navy, air force, and rocket forces surrounding Taiwan. The drills, according to Beijing, were intended to practice a blockade of the self-governing island. China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory, with repeated threats of using force to assert control.

The Chinese military has ramped up the presence of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years, bolstering its assertion of sovereignty, a claim rejected by Taipei. Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed the deployment of China's Shandong aircraft carrier group, joining 19 other warships surrounding the island.

Beijing stated that the exercises aimed to deliver a "stern warning" to alleged separatists in Taiwan, focusing on "sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade on key areas and sea lanes." Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command, mentioned that Chinese forces were closing in on Taiwan from multiple directions.

Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, recently labeled China as a "foreign hostile force" and proposed measures to combat Chinese espionage. Lai, who took office last May, has been more vocal than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen in defending Taiwan's sovereignty, drawing the ire of Beijing, which has labeled him a "separatist."

In response to the exercises, China’s Eastern Theater Command released a graphic depicting military forces surrounding Taiwan. Another image mocked President Lai, showing him as an insect being roasted over an open fire. The military also shared a video featuring fighter jets, naval vessels, and missile launchers alongside animations of the legendary Monkey King, Sun Wukong, portraying an ominous narrative of military power.

China’s coast guard also participated in "law enforcement patrols" around the island during the drills.

This series of exercises marks the largest since February, following a "live-fire" drill near Taiwan's south coast. Taiwan's military had responded by monitoring the situation and remaining on alert.

These drills are part of a long-standing series of military operations around Taiwan, often seen as preparations for a potential blockade or seizure. Beijing's increased military activities around Taiwan come amid rising tensions, particularly after U.S. support for the island.

Taiwan remains a significant point of tension between China and the United States, with Washington being Taiwan's primary military ally and arms supplier. The U.S. maintains "strategic ambiguity" regarding its potential military involvement in defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack, despite its legal obligation to provide arms.

The roots of the China-Taiwan conflict trace back to 1949, after the Kuomintang forces retreated to Taiwan following their defeat by communist forces in the Chinese Civil War. Taiwan has never been governed by communist China, with a history that includes periods of rule by the Dutch, Spanish, Qing Dynasty, and Japan.