A genuine Chinese blockade of Taiwan would constitute an act of war and have significant implications for global trade, stated Defence Minister Wellington Koo on Wednesday, following recent military exercises by China that simulated such a scenario.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite the island’s democratic governance, has conducted nearly daily military operations in the vicinity over the past five years, including war games that have rehearsed blockades and assaults on ports. The Taiwanese government firmly disputes Beijing’s claims of sovereignty.

“According to United Nations resolutions, this would be classified as a form of warfare,” he remarked. “It is important to emphasize that drills and exercises differ fundamentally from an actual blockade, particularly regarding their effects on the international community.”

Koo noted that a blockade would have repercussions extending beyond Taiwan, highlighting that approximately one-fifth of global freight transits through the Taiwan Strait. “The international community could not remain passive in such a situation,” he asserted.

Taiwan has been preparing for the possibility of a blockade, including securing food supplies. However, Koo identified liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a vulnerability. Economy ministry official Hu Wen-chung mentioned that Taiwan currently has around eight days’ worth of LNG supplies, with plans to increase this to 14 days by 2027. As a contingency, decommissioned coal-fired power plants could be reactivated if necessary.

CARRIER IN THE STRAIT

Although last week’s military exercises were brief, Chinese military operations have persisted. China has consistently maintained its stance on the potential use of force to assert control over Taiwan.

On Wednesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that a Chinese aircraft carrier group had traversed the Taiwan Strait, moving northward after navigating near the Taiwan-administered Pratas Islands. The ministry indicated that the fleet, led by the Liaoning—China’s oldest aircraft carrier—was detected on Tuesday night, and Taiwanese forces were monitoring the vessels. The Pratas Islands are located at the northern edge of the South China Sea.

The Chinese defense ministry did not provide a response to inquiries regarding this movement. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated to reporters in Beijing that since Taiwan is considered Chinese territory, “it is entirely normal for China’s aircraft carriers to operate within their own territory and waters.”

The Liaoning participated in the aforementioned military exercises near Taiwan last week, during which it was reported to have launched aircraft from its deck off the island’s southeast coast. Additionally, Japan noted last month that the same carrier had entered its contiguous waters for the first time.

China has previously navigated its aircraft carriers through the strategically significant strait, including a passage in December, just prior to Taiwan’s elections. The Chinese government asserts that it holds exclusive jurisdiction over the approximately 180 km (110 miles) wide waterway, which serves as a crucial route for international trade. However, Taiwan and the United States contest this claim, arguing that the Taiwan Strait should be recognized as an international waterway.

The U.S. Navy routinely conducts operations in the strait to uphold freedom of navigation rights, a practice mirrored by allied nations such as Canada, Germany, and Britain, which has drawn ire from Beijing. Taiwan has expressed concerns regarding China’s deployment of its coast guard during recent military exercises, particularly fearing that Chinese forces may board and inspect Taiwanese civilian vessels as part of an effort to assert legal control over the strait. In a report presented to parliament on Wednesday, Taiwan’s coast guard stated that if such incidents were to occur, its vessels would respond based on the principle of “neither provoking nor backing down,” and would take all necessary measures to prevent such actions.