Beijing: China launched joint military exercises involving its army, navy, and rocket force around Taiwan on Tuesday, describing the drills as a "stern warning" against separatist movements. In an intensification of its rhetoric, Beijing referred to Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, as a "parasite," while Taipei responded by deploying warships to counter China's naval maneuvers near its coast.
The large-scale exercises follow President Lai’s recent remarks in which he called China a "foreign hostile force," a statement that has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing. China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to assert control, strongly opposes Lai’s stance.
The Eastern Theatre Command, which oversees operations near Taiwan, stated that the drills focus on various military tactics, including combat readiness patrols, asserting maritime and aerial control, striking key land and sea targets, and enforcing blockade measures over strategic areas and routes.
Taiwanese officials swiftly condemned the exercises. The presidential office dismissed China's actions as disruptive, stating that "China is widely recognized by the international community as a troublemaker." It reiterated that Taiwan’s future should be determined solely by its people.
According to two senior Taiwanese officials, more than 10 Chinese military vessels advanced close to Taiwan’s 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone, prompting a response from Taiwan’s navy. However, the officials noted that no live-fire activity had been detected from the Chinese forces.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry confirmed that China’s Shandong aircraft carrier group entered the island’s defense zone on Monday. In response, Taiwan deployed military aircraft and ships and activated its land-based missile defense systems.
The timing of these exercises follows a recent visit to the region by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had traveled to Japan and the Philippines. During his visit, he criticized China’s actions and emphasized Japan’s critical role in countering Beijing’s growing assertiveness.
A senior Taiwanese security official suggested that China was leveraging the situation in Taiwan as a strategic pretext to avoid direct confrontation with Washington ahead of crucial U.S.-China trade discussions. "Taiwan provides them with a convenient excuse," the official remarked, pointing out that the drills were launched immediately after the U.S. defense chief left the region.
The U.S., which supports Taiwan through the American Institute in Taiwan, strongly criticized China’s military maneuvers. A spokesperson for the institute stated, "China continues to prove it is not a responsible actor and is willing to jeopardize regional stability and prosperity."
In a series of propaganda videos released after the drills began, China’s military showcased warships and fighter jets encircling Taiwan. One video depicted President Lai as an insect, portraying him as a threat to Taiwan. Another featured Sun Wukong, a mythical warrior from Chinese folklore, juxtaposed with footage of Chinese fighter jets, reinforcing the military’s message of strength and dominance.
Taiwan’s Defense Minister, Wellington Koo, dismissed Beijing’s rhetoric, calling it inflammatory and counterproductive to regional peace. He further criticized China’s military for its internal struggles with corruption, referencing the recent removal of former Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu amid a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown.
China’s coast guard also participated in the exercises, simulating operations that included intercepting and detaining unauthorized vessels as part of its claim to "legitimate jurisdiction" over Taiwan.
According to the state-run Global Times, the latest military activities were intentionally left without a specific code name, signaling that such maneuvers have become routine. Citing military expert Zhang Chi, the report emphasized that repeated exercises in the Taiwan Strait have strengthened China’s preparedness for potential conflict.
China has escalated its military activities around Taiwan multiple times in recent years, particularly following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 visit to Taipei.
