China Launches Military Drills Around Taiwan in a Show of Force

Tensions Rise as Beijing Sends Strong Message to Taipei, Criticizing President William Lai

China's military has initiated joint exercises involving its army, navy, and rocket force around Taiwan, characterizing the drills as a "stern warning" against Taiwanese independence. They targeted President William Lai (賴清德), labeling him a "parasite."

The exercises follow Lai's recent description of Beijing as a "foreign hostile force."

The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sails in waters off Taiwan.

Source: Ministry of National Defense

According to two senior Taiwanese officials, more than ten Chinese military ships approached Taiwan's 24 nautical mile (44.4km) contiguous zone this morning, prompting a response from Taiwanese warships.

An image from a video posted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command on Sina Weibo shows President William Lai as a bug held over a flaming Taiwan with chopsticks.

Source: Weibo

One official confirmed that Taiwan has not yet detected any live fire from the Chinese military.

The Eastern Theater Command, announcing the drills, emphasized exercises focused on combat readiness, seizing control, striking maritime and land targets, and imposing blockade controls. The exercises will involve combat readiness patrols at sea and in the air, seizing comprehensive control, striking maritime and land targets, and imposing blockade controls on key areas and routes. The Ministry of National Defense stated that China's Shandong aircraft carrier group entered the nation's response area, prompting the deployment of military aircraft, ships, and land-based missile systems. They also added that "The Chinese Communist Party has continued to increase its military activities around Taiwan and in the Indo-Pacific region ... and has become the biggest 'troublemaker' in the international community."

In a display of propaganda, China's military released videos showing warships and fighter jets encircling Taiwan, aiming at Taipei, and military vehicles patrolling city streets. The Eastern Theater Command's Weibo page posted a video titled "Closing In," depicting Chinese forces surrounding the nation.

Another video, "Shell," depicted President Lai as a green cartoon bug spreading parasites across Taiwan, accompanied by the animation's claim that it would lead to "Parasite poisoning Taiwan island. Parasite hollowing Island out. Parasite courting ultimate destruction."

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) condemned the rhetoric as unhelpful for peace, stating it "shows their provocative character."

A third video, "Subdue Demons and Vanquish Evils," featured Sun Wukong (孫悟空), the Monkey King from Journey to the West. It opens with the Chinese mythical warrior riding on clouds before cutting to footage of Chinese fighter jets.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) stated that the joint exercise by the Eastern Theater Command was a "resolute punishment for the Lai authorities' rampant 'independence' provocations."

Koo urged the PLA to prioritize addressing internal corruption instead of undermining regional peace and stability. The Chinese military has undergone an anti-corruption purge in recent years, which led to the ousting of former Chinese minister of national defense Li Shangfu (李尚福) in October last year.

The American Institute in Taiwan condemned China's "irresponsible threats" and military pressure, reaffirming US support for Taiwan. A spokesperson stated that China's actions "only serve to exacerbate tensions and undermine cross-strait peace and stability" and "has shown that it is not a responsible actor and has no problem putting the region's security and prosperity at risk."

The Global Times, owned by the People's Daily, quoted Zhang Chi (張弛) of National Defense University, claiming that the drills had no code name to demonstrate that surrounding Taiwan "has become a normal practice."

The paper's Weixin social media page added, "Through a series of exercises held in the Taiwan Strait in recent years, the PLA has strongly enhanced its ability to prepare for war and fight battles."