China’s military exercises around Taiwan are designed to test its ability to “seize power” over the island, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced Friday. This marked the second day of large-scale drills encircling Taiwan, which began just days after Lai Ching-te, a proponent of the island’s sovereignty, was sworn in as Taiwan’s new president.
Beijing, which denounces Lai as a “dangerous separatist,” criticized his inauguration speech where he urged China to end its intimidation of Taiwan, a stance that has intensified under Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
On Thursday morning, the PLA initiated the largest exercises in over a year, deploying warships and fighter jets around Taiwan and its outlying islands. These maneuvers, described as “a strong punishment for separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces,” continued on Friday. The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command emphasized that the drills aimed to “test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks, and occupy key areas.”
China’s Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory, despite never having governed it, and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary. Most Taiwanese reject living under Chinese rule, but Xi has asserted that the island’s “inevitable reunification” cannot be delayed indefinitely.
The two-day exercises, involving China’s army, navy, air force, and rocket force, are taking place in the Taiwan Strait as well as north, south, and east of Taiwan. For the first time, China’s Coast Guard is also participating, operating near Taiwan’s outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.
CCTV footage on Friday showed PLA soldiers positioning mobile artillery and missile systems, though no live fire was displayed.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned China’s drills as “irrational provocations,” deploying its own sea, air, and ground forces in response. Between Thursday morning and Friday morning, the ministry detected 49 Chinese aircraft, including 35 that crossed the Median Line, an informal boundary in the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, 19 Chinese warships and seven coast guard vessels were observed near the strait.
Taiwan’s presidential office expressed regret over China’s “unilateral military provocations” threatening Taiwan’s democracy, freedom, and regional peace. The office affirmed Taiwan’s “confidence and ability to protect national security.”
First Week in Office
President Lai Ching-te has had a politically charged start to his term, succeeding two-term leader Tsai Ing-wen and commencing a historic third consecutive term for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The PLA drills are Lai’s first major test in handling Beijing’s aggression, which has rejected his offer to resume cross-strait tourism and student exchanges.
Domestically, Lai faces a legislature dominated by opposition parties favoring closer ties to China, which have pushed for tighter scrutiny of his administration. Thousands of young people have protested the opposition’s efforts to fast-track bills granting more power to the parliament.
Despite Beijing’s show of force, daily life in Taiwan remained unaffected. An 88-year-old retiree, Mr. Liu, expressed confidence in Taiwan’s resilience against the Chinese Communist Party, while a 42-year-old mother, Ms. Tsai, was unaware of the drills, trusting in leaders to maintain peace.
‘Blockading Taiwan’
China’s military drills serve both domestic and international purposes, with state media amplifying their coverage. Chinese military expert Zhang Chi told CCTV that the PLA is practicing a new mode of blockading Taiwan, highlighting the island’s economic and energy vulnerabilities.
Drills to the south target Kaohsiung port, Taiwan’s largest and a key naval base, while exercises to the east aim to cut off energy imports and potential escape routes for “Taiwan independence” forces and US support.
The US maintains close but informal relations with Taiwan, supplying it with defensive weapons by law. Zhang noted that the exercises have advanced by reaching waters near Wuqiu and Dongyin, crucial for Taiwan’s defense.
Analysts point out that including the China Coast Guard in the drills adds a provocative element. Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, predicts these activities will become routine, potentially escalating into real military operations.
Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, suggested that while these drills blur the lines between peace and war, they send a stronger political message than an imminent invasion threat. Lionel Fatton, assistant professor at Webster University, indicated that the drills aim to pressure Taiwan’s new administration and deepen internal divisions, potentially weakening the island’s stability.
