TAIPEI, Taiwan – China has deployed an “unprecedented number” of naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait and announced extensive reserved airspace zones in a display of its capability to project power into the Pacific, a senior island defense official said on Wednesday.
The show of force, which has yet to include any military exercises, comes days after Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, visited the U.S. state of Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam during a tour to reinforce ties with the island’s Pacific allies. It also comes as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is preparing for his second term.
The Reuters news agency said on Wednesday that China had deployed about 90 vessels in waters surrounding Taiwan.
In addition to the ships, China’s People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, announced seven reserved airspace zones east of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and spanning 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), covering what is known as the First Island Chain, in the western Pacific, from Japan south to Borneo.
“This showcases the PLA’s capability to project power eastward to the First Island Chain and the Western Pacific,” Taiwan defense ministry official Lieutenant General Hsieh Jih-sheng, deputy chief of the Intelligence and Operations Staff, told at a press conference.
Hsieh said the deployment, which included 47 fighter aircraft, was larger than two previous exercises China launched this year, Joint Sword-2024A and Joint Sword-2024B.
“The figures are indeed staggering,” Hsieh said, when asked about the Chinese aircraft and vessels involved.
Asked about the timing of the Chinese deployment, and whether it could be related to Lai’s Pacific tour or the change of administration in the United States, Hsieh declined to speculate.
“Whatever connections the CCP tries to draw is their matter; there’s no need to answer on their behalf,” he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. “Their actions have indeed raised concerns and unease among neighboring countries.”
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When a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also asked about the situation at a Tuesday press conference, she reiterated Beijing’s longstanding position on its claim to Taiwan.
“Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory,” spokesperson Mao Ning said. “The Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China. China will firmly safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The spokesperson for Taiwan’s defense ministry, Sun Li-fang, said China’s actions were never in response to a particular individual or political position but more of a broader challenge.
“The CCP’s fundamental goal is to use authoritarian means to challenge regional order and peace,” Sun said.
Edited by Taejun Kang.