Taiwan has raised its alert level due to China’s deployment of 90 ships for military exercises

Taiwan elevated its alert status on Monday, citing China‘s establishment of seven designated airspace zones and the deployment of naval fleets and coast guard vessels. A security source characterized this as the first extensive military exercises conducted across a significant portion of the region’s waters.

A senior official from Taiwan‘s security agency informed Reuters that China currently has nearly 90 naval and coast guard ships operating in the waters surrounding Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands, and the East and South China Seas, with approximately two-thirds of these being navy vessels.

China’s defense ministry has not yet responded to a request for comment from Reuters. Anticipation had been building that China would initiate another series of military exercises in reaction to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s recent trip to the Pacific, which included visits to Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam, according to security sources.

According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, China has designated seven “temporary reserved areas” of airspace to the east of its Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, effective from Monday through Wednesday. These zones are temporarily allocated for specific users, although other flights may transit through with the necessary permissions from air traffic controllers, in accordance with international regulations.

In Washington, the White House has not yet provided a response to a request for comment. The Taiwan security official, who requested anonymity, noted that the scale of China’s naval and coast guard presence is greater than during the previous two significant drills conducted around Taiwan this year, referred to as “Joint Sword 2024-A” and “Joint Sword 2024-B.”

A source indicated that this marks the first instance of targeting the entire island chain, which extends from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines, and down to Borneo, effectively encircling China’s coastal waters. The objective is to establish complete military dominance by positioning forces to control the inner regions of this island chain.

In response, Taiwan’s military has initiated “combat readiness exercises” at key locations, with naval and coast guard vessels actively monitoring Chinese military operations.

Taiwan’s defense ministry warned that any unilateral, irrational, or provocative actions could severely undermine peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, a sentiment that would not be supported by the international community.

Additionally, Taiwan’s coast guard reported that seven Chinese coast guard ships have engaged in “grey-zone harassment” against the island earlier in the day. The coast guard emphasized that China has no authority to conduct any intrusions or law enforcement activities in Taiwan’s waters, asserting Taipei’s right to take necessary countermeasures.

Taiwan has accused China of employing “grey-zone” tactics that fall short of direct conflict to test and exert pressure on Taiwanese forces, which includes routine air and naval operations around the island, as well as consistent coast guard patrols.

China views Lai as a “separatist” and has dismissed his repeated overtures for dialogue. Lai and his administration reject Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, asserting that only the people of Taiwan have the authority to determine their future.