China has begun three days of military exercises around Taiwan, including a rehearsal of “total encirclement” of the self-ruled island. Military spokesman Shi Yin has stated that these maneuvers “serve as a stern warning against collusion between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and outside forces.”
The exercise will focus on taking control of sea, airspace, and information to create a deterrent and total encirclement of Taiwan, and destroyer ships, fast missile launchers, fighters, and tanker aircraft will be deployed during the maneuvers. Taiwan’s defense ministry has stated that the Chinese exercises “seriously undermine peace, stability, and security in the region.” China considers democratically-governed Taiwan to be part of its territory and opposes any contact between Taiwanese leaders and representatives of other countries.
The Chinese military exercises follow a meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China has warned that it would take “firm and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity” after any contact between Taiwanese leaders and representatives of other countries. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry has detected nine warships and 71 military aircraft around its territory during the exercises.
China already conducted military maneuvers around the island in August 2022 in response to a visit to Taipei by Nancy Pelosi, McCarthy’s predecessor as head of the House of Representatives. Taiwan is recognized by only 13 countries, and the United States is not among them, although it is a major ally and arms supplier. Tsai has stated that Taiwan “will continue to work with the United States and other like-minded countries to jointly uphold the values of freedom and democracy.” For its part, China has affirmed that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.