Heightened tensions as largest Chinese fleet surrounds Taiwan
The spokesperson for Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, Sun Li-fang, reported that the number of Chinese military ships and coast guard units near Taiwan is the largest in decades. These ships have been deployed along the so-called first island chain, which includes Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
According to Sun Li-fang, the current scale of Chinese exercises is the largest compared to the previous four large-scale maneuvers.
- Whether or not Beijing announced these exercises, it poses a huge threat to us, - the spokesperson added.
Chinese military maneuvers
A high-ranking Taiwanese security official told AFP that "almost 90" Chinese units are located in the waters of the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the South China Sea.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense also detected 47 Chinese aircraft and 12 military ships near the main island of Taiwan.
Speculation about Beijing's plans for further maneuvers emerged after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visited three Pacific island nations, as well as the American island of Guam and Hawaii. Authorities in Beijing consider Taiwan part of the People’s Republic of China and criticize Lai's actions, labeling him a "separatist."
Reactions to the Taiwanese president's visit
President Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party emphasize that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other. A Taiwanese think tank IPST study showed that 92% of Taiwanese consider Taiwan an independent country, and 77.5% believe Taiwan does not belong to China.
The Chinese communist authorities claim that Taiwan is a timeless part of the People's Republic of China, although the PRC has never exercised control over it. Leader Xi Jinping maintains that "national reunification" is inevitable and a condition for the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." He does not rule out the possibility of taking military action. The government in Taipei rejects Beijing's claims, emphasizing that only the country's residents can decide its future.
