Taiwan Labels China a ‘Troublemaker’ Over Massive Naval Drills Near Its Shores
Taiwan’s presidency has called on China to halt its provocative actions after Taiwanese officials reported a significant increase in military activity near the island.
The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that, within the past 24 hours, it had tracked 53 Chinese military aircraft, 11 navy ships, and eight civilian vessels in close proximity to Taiwan. These actions have raised concerns, with Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accusing China of creating instability in the region, further disrupting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
In response to the growing tension, a Chinese government spokesperson did not directly confirm the increased military drills but defended Beijing’s actions as the spokesperson emphasized that China was taking necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and to counter any “separatist Taiwan forces as China has consistently maintained its stance that Taiwan is part of its territory, despite Taiwan’s democratic government and its rejection of Beijing’s claims.
The recent surge in Chinese military activity comes after Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te made a stopover in the United States during his tour of Pacific nations. This move was expected to provoke Beijing, and Taiwan has raised its military alert level. Taiwanese officials reported the deployment of China’s largest navy fleet in the region in nearly three decades, and security experts believe this military show of force was aimed at sending a message to the incoming US administration.
The United States has been closely monitoring the situation, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirming that the US would continue to support Taiwan in defending itself. Austin stated that the US policy on Taiwan has not changed and emphasized the commitment to ensuring that no party attempts to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan continues to rely on US arms sales for its defense, as it faces the persistent threat of a potential Chinese military attack.
