China stages largest show of force in decades after US visit by Taiwan’s Lai
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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. TAIPEI—China massed dozens of navy and coast guard vessels in what appears to be the largest maritime exercises targeting Taiwan and the broader Western Pacific region since 1996, a potent warning to the incoming Trump administration of its intention to eventually take control of the island. China’s military didn’t announce the start of any drills.
But Taiwanese authorities said Tuesday they were seeing “major elements of a military drill" over a vast expanse of air and sea near Taiwan. The maneuvers are an apparent expression of Beijing’s anger over President Lai Ching-te’s recent visit to Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam as part of his first international tour as president.
The Chinese Communist government considers Taiwan part of China, despite having never ruled there, and has pledged to take it by force if necessary. China vehemently opposes contact between Taiwan and American officials. Before Lai’s departure, Beijing vowed to “resolutely crush any ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists," a label Beijing applies to Lai.
The maneuvers are “a significant security challenge to us," said Maj. Gen. Sun Li-fang, the spokesman for Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.
“The threats aren’t just aimed at Taiwan. They’re also a threat to other countries in the region." China has deployed nearly 60 naval ships and almost 30 other coast guard vessels, a senior Taiwanese official said. It deployed forces from its northern, southern and eastern theater commands, in the waters spanning from the East Sea to South China Sea.
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