China has initiated a live-firing exercise from its territory closest to Taiwan, just one week after conducting a large-scale drill encircling the island. This military activity reflects the increasing assertiveness of Beijing regarding its claims over the self-governing island.
On Monday, the Chinese government announced that an area around Niushan an island located 105 km (66 miles) from Taiwan would be closed for military drills for four hours, starting at 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
In response, Taiwan’s Premier, Cho Jung-tai, criticized the exercises, stating, “No matter how large the scale of the drill is, they should not be frequent and close to Taiwan. This will only cause unnecessary tension.” While Taipei has labeled the drills as routine, analysts suggest that the proximity of the exercises signals a more aggressive posture from China.
The drills form part of a broader campaign, with Chinese ships and aircraft regularly entering Taiwanese territory and airspace. This tactic, known as grey zone warfare, aims to normalize incursions and gradually erode Taiwan’s defenses.
As China’s military activities ramp up, Taiwan’s allies, particularly the United States, have increased their own military maneuvers. Historically, the US Pacific fleet was the only foreign navy routinely traversing the Taiwan Strait to assert freedom of navigation. Recently, however, other US allies including Canada, Germany, Australia, and Japan have joined these operations, termed “high-visibility” missions.
Most recently, US and Canadian warships conducted joint patrols over the weekend, indicating a united front against Chinese assertiveness. Analysts interpret these developments as a clear signal from both China and the US, with Beijing reaffirming its claims over Taiwan while Washington demonstrates its support for the island.
A US official conveyed to the BBC that while Washington is focused on reducing tensions with Beijing, especially amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, the long-term concern for the US remains China’s intentions toward Taiwan.
Last Monday, China deployed a record 153 military aircraft, along with warships and coast guard vessels, in a show of force intended to simulate a multifaceted attack on Taiwan. This exercise followed Taiwanese President William Lai’s National Day speech on October 10, in which he asserted Taiwan’s sovereignty and stated, “We will resist annexation or encroachment upon [Taiwan’s] sovereignty.”
Lai emphasized that China and Taiwan are “not subordinate to each other,” asserting that China “has no right to represent Taiwan.” China has consistently threatened to take Taiwan by force if necessary and has labeled Lai a “troublemaker” for his pro-independence stance.
