China Launches Military Drills Encircling Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions

China announced on Tuesday that it has initiated large-scale military exercises encircling Taiwan, heightening cross-strait tensions.

The Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stated that the drills involve army, navy, and rocket forces, approaching Taiwan from multiple directions. The exercises focus on sea and air combat readiness, policing patrols, precision strikes on maritime and land-based targets, and strategic blockades of key sea routes.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the command, described the maneuvers as a “serious warning and a strong deterrence” against what Beijing labels as “separatist forces of Taiwan independence.”

In response, Taiwan’s defense ministry reaffirmed its commitment to national security, stating that despite the increasing military threat, it will uphold the principle of “not escalating conflicts and not causing disputes.” The ministry emphasized that Taiwan’s armed forces possess the capability, determination, and confidence to safeguard its sovereignty and public safety.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own despite never having governed it, has intensified pressure on the island, rejecting the possibility of peaceful coexistence. Taiwan, a self-governing democracy of 23 million people, has consistently resisted Beijing’s claims.

Recent weeks have seen heightened tensions between the two sides. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te recently referred to China as a “foreign hostile force” and accused Beijing of escalating infiltration efforts. His administration expelled two Chinese spouses from Taiwan, alleging they were using social media to promote Chinese military action against the island.

China’s military exercises follow Taiwan’s first-ever civilian defense drill, which simulated responses to potential Chinese attacks and disasters. On the same day, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported an incursion of 30 Chinese military aircraft and drones near the island, with 20 crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, accompanied by eight Chinese naval vessels.

The escalation also comes amid uncertainty over U.S. policy toward Taiwan. While Washington remains Taipei’s key unofficial ally, it has urged Taiwan to strengthen its own defense and increase military spending. However, Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature has delayed or frozen key defense programs in the government’s budget.

In its statement, Taiwan’s defense ministry accused China of “escalating military activities” in the Indo-Pacific, undermining regional stability, and challenging the international order. It labeled Beijing as the “biggest troublemaker” in global affairs.