In a surprise move, the Chinese military launched a massive military training exercise around Taiwan this week.
Drills took place in both the airspace and waters surrounding the island nation, with the Chinese navy, air, ground, and rocket forces involved in the exercise. Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command, said the drills were intended to deliver a “severe warning and forceful containment against Taiwan independence,” per AP.
Taiwan remains a highly contentious issue between Beijing and Washington. While China considers the island part of its territory, the United States recognizes Taiwan as an independent nation, much to Beijing’s dissatisfaction. In the past, China has said it is prepared to secure Taiwan by force, raising concerns that the United States could be entangled in a war to defend its ally’s sovereignty.
Taiwan’s significance has increased in recent years as it persists as the world’s hub for advanced semiconductor production. Late last year, Elbridge Colby, who then-President-elect Donald Trump named his next undersecretary of defense policy, said it was critical that leading chip producer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) not fall into the hands of the People’s Republic of China.
“China’s blatant military provocations not only threaten peace in the #Taiwan Strait but also undermine security in the entire region, as evidenced by drills near Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the Philippines & the [South China Sea]. We strongly condemn China’s escalatory behavior,” the Taiwan Presidential Office Spokesperson’s account posted on X on March 31.
By 6 a.m. Tuesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it had tracked 19 Chinese navy vessels in its surrounding waters over the prior 24-hour period. Taiwan has previously said China could kick off a sneak attack on the island that first appears as a training exercise. The latest training drill follows another large-scale exercise that occurred in mid-March.
On Tuesday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said it would not “tolerate” the stance of Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s pro-independence president.
“Lai Ching-te stubbornly insists on a ‘Taiwan independence’ stance, brazenly labeling the mainland as a ‘foreign hostile force… stirring up anti-China sentiments,” the statement read. “We will not tolerate or condone this in any way and must resolutely counter and severely punish these actions.”