China Encircles Taiwan With War Drills, Escalating Post-National Day Tensions

China’s military launched a new series of war games near Taiwan, just days after the island celebrated its National Day. The exercises, dubbed “Joint Sword-2024B”, involve ships and aircraft positioned to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, according to Captain Li Xi, spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command. As of Monday, Chinese state media reports that 25 PLA aircraft and 11 ships, including seven from the navy, are operating around Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense responded to the maneuvers, condemning them as “irrational and provocative.” The ministry emphasized its desire to avoid direct confrontations but accused China of threatening regional security and undermining the rules-based international order. In response to the exercises, Taiwan’s military has been placed on heightened alert, deploying aircraft and ships while closely monitoring any Chinese missile movements. The ministry also urged the Taiwanese public to remain vigilant against potential misinformation from China.

The office of Taiwanese President William Lai also issued a statement, calling on China to respect Taiwan’s democratic system and refrain from further military provocations. “Our government will continue to defend our constitutional system of democracy and freedom. We are confident and capable of safeguarding national security,” the statement read. Lai’s office stressed that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is a shared responsibility.

The Biden administration in the United States also weighed in, criticizing China’s drills as unnecessary. US officials said they are closely monitoring the situation and called on China to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region. The US State Department reiterated its commitment to regional peace, prosperity, and security, emphasizing that China’s actions are of international concern.

Meanwhile Taiwanese fighter jets taking off and landing at Hsinchu Air Base, and military land vehicles in motion, signaling Taiwan’s readiness to respond if necessary. The defense ministry confirmed its deployment of aircraft and ships in response to the increasing military presence near its coast.