Fatshimetrie recently reported that China has deployed its largest regional maritime fleet in decades near Taiwan and in the Western Pacific. The massive deployment was observed by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, which has been closely monitoring what it describes as a surge in Chinese military activity in the Taiwan Strait and the Western Pacific.
The alert level has been high in Taiwan since the start of this situation, as President Lai Ching-te angered Beijing by making unofficial stops in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam earlier this month.
Taiwanese authorities reported multiple formations of Chinese warships and coast guard vessels moving through regional waters and around the Taiwan Strait on Monday. While Beijing has not announced any military exercises or acknowledged the large-scale deployment reported by Taipei, it is clear that something major is afoot.
General Hsieh Jih-Sheng, vice chief of staff of the intelligence service, called the number of Chinese ships deployed “astonishing” and a potential threat to all external forces. He stressed that the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) naval deployment is not limited to Taiwan, but extends beyond the First Island Chain, a strategic area that includes Japan, Taiwan, parts of the Philippines, and Indonesia.
According to Hsieh, the PLA’s recent activities have put military pressure not only on Taiwan, but also around the Western Pacific. This surge in Chinese naval presence raises concerns about China’s ability to block any foreign intervention in the event of an invasion of Taiwan, which could pose an existential threat to the island.
It is also notable that Taiwanese authorities have reported a significant increase in PLA aircraft flights around the island, with 47 aircraft detected in the 24 hours leading up to 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The escalation of tensions comes after President Lai’s unofficial visit to Hawaii and Guam drew a strong response from Beijing. The visit marked Lai’s first to the United States since his inauguration in May, and was used to strengthen ties with like-minded democracies.
China still regards Taiwan as an integral part of its territory and views any interaction between Washington and Taipei as a violation of its sovereignty. While Taiwanese authorities reject China’s territorial claims, Beijing remains committed to “reunifying” the island and has not ruled out using force to achieve this.
The situation remains tense and uncertain, and it is essential for all parties to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions to avoid an escalation of tensions in the region. The future of Taiwan and regional stability depend on it.