China’s Military Maneuvers and Their Implications for Taiwan
In a significant display of military might, Chinese warplanes have crossed an informal boundary between China and Taiwan in record numbers. This provocative action is part of a broader military exercise that saw Chinese Coast Guard vessels and naval ships encircling the island of Taiwan. Additionally, fighter jets were launched from an aircraft carrier stationed off Taiwan’s eastern coast.
The large-scale drills conducted by China this week were not merely routine exercises; they were strategically aimed at showcasing China’s capability to potentially cut off Taiwan’s access to essential resources, including food and fuel. The maneuvers also served to illustrate how China could effectively block the skies and waters that the United States and its allies would likely use to come to Taiwan’s defense in a crisis.
These exercises highlight a marked improvement in China’s ability to coordinate complex military operations that involve a diverse range of forces, including military, coast guard, and rocket units. Such developments pose an increased risk of confrontation or accidental escalation, potentially involving the United States and its Asian allies in the process.
As China continues to tighten its military grip on Taiwan, it is effectively establishing a new normal. This ongoing pressure creates a daily strain on Taiwan’s defense forces and increases the likelihood that Taiwan may feel compelled to capitulate without engaging in direct conflict.
This recent military activity marks the second instance in less than five months that China has undertaken similar exercises, responding to what it perceives as pro-separatist sentiments from Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te. In comparison, during the eight years of President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration, China conducted only two such drills.
Brian Hart, a fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, remarked, “Beijing is normalizing the use of these large-scale military and coast guard activities under the Lai administration. They have made it clear that if they observe actions that they interpret as provocative from Taiwan, they will respond in this manner.”
