Taiwan‘s Defense Minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, has expressed concerns about the heightened frequency of China’s military activities around Taiwan, warning that such activities could inadvertently lead to clashes and broader conflicts. In the past two weeks, Taiwan has reported numerous Chinese fighters, drones, bombers, warships, and the aircraft carrier Shandong operating near its territory.
China considers Taiwan its own territory and has engaged in frequent military drills near the island to assert sovereignty claims and exert pressure on Taipei. The recent surge in such activities has raised concerns in Taiwan about the risk of accidental incidents triggering a larger conflict.
Chiu noted that warships from China’s southern and eastern theater commands have been operating together off Taiwan’s east coast, increasing the potential for risks involving aircraft, ships, and weaponry.
China has not officially commented on these drills, and its defense ministry has not responded to inquiries about the activities.
Taiwan has traditionally planned to use its mountainous east coast, particularly its major air bases, as a place to regroup and preserve its forces in the event of a conflict. However, China’s ability to flex its military muscles off Taiwan’s east coast, combined with its demonstrated capacity to operate further away from its coastline, has challenged Taiwan’s defense strategies.
While Taiwan has stated its intention to remain calm and avoid escalation, it has also emphasized that it will not tolerate repeated provocations from China. Thus far, Chinese forces have not entered Taiwan’s territorial seas or airspace. The situation remains highly sensitive, with both sides closely monitoring developments in the region.
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