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GMA Network
10 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Taiwan says China deployed 2 aircraft carrier groups, dozens of ships
TAIPEI, Taiwan - China deployed two aircraft carrier groups and dozens of ships in waters north and south of Taiwan last month, a Taiwanese security official said Monday, as Beijing keeps up military pressure on the self-ruled island. Up to 70 Chinese ships, including navy vessels, were monitored from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea from May 1-27, a security official said on the condition of anonymity. Beijing has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan in recent years as it pressures Taipei to accept its claims of sovereignty over the island. China has refused to rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, leaving the island to face the constant threat of invasion. "Its military actions and grey-zone activities have included large-scale deployments across the entire island chain, involving comprehensive maximum pressure," the security official said in remarks released Monday. "On average, there have been between 50 to 70 naval vessels and government ships as well as hundreds of sorties by various military aircraft continuously conducting harassment operations." Some of the ships passed through the Miyako Strait to the Western Pacific Ocean for "long-distance training, including combined air-sea exercises", the official said. Another 30 Chinese vessels with no name, documentation or port of registry were detected near Taiwan's Penghu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait on May 19 and had been "deliberately sent to harass", the official said. And a total of 75 Chinese aircraft were involved in three "combat readiness patrols" near the island during the month, Taiwan's defense ministry figures show. Asia-Pacific's so-called first island chain links Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines, while the Yellow Sea is west of South Korea -- all partners of the United States and critical to its influence in the region. 'More provocative' The Taiwanese security official said China's activities in May were "more provocative than previously observed". In one incident, Tokyo and Beijing exchanged diplomatic protests each accusing the other of "violating" national airspace, after a Chinese helicopter and coast guard vessels faced off with a Japanese aircraft around disputed islands. The Chinese actions were a demonstration of "military expansion" and were aimed at controlling the "entire island chain and improving their capabilities", the official said. China's deployment coincided with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's speech on May 20 marking his first year in office and came ahead of an annual security forum in Singapore at the weekend. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia. Beijing, which did not send its Defence Minister Dong Jun to the summit, warned Washington "should not play with fire". "It felt like they were in a state where they could announce something at any moment, trying to seize on some opportunity or excuse to act," the Taiwanese official said of the Chinese. China has carried out several large-scale military drills around Taiwan since Lai took office. — Agence France-Presse
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First Post
16 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
Ticking Taiwan Strait: Waiting for a war everyone sees coming
Taiwan today is a barometer of the state of the liberal international order, the legitimacy of deterrence theory, the stability of the world economy, and the integrity of alliance politics read more Few fault lines in global power politics are as flammable and so consequential as the Taiwan Strait is. War between China and Taiwan is no more a far-off possibility. It is a live variable shaped by daily movements, doctrinal changes, and the steady disintegration of the presumptions behind deterrence. Taiwan today is a barometer of the state of the liberal international order, the legitimacy of deterrence theory, the stability of the world economy, and the integrity of alliance politics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China has until today refrained from military escalation, and the world has kept 'strategic ambiguity', avoidance of unambiguous commitments to Taiwan's defence, but has quietly prepared for the possibility. This has managed the cross-Strait relationship over more than two decades through a precarious equilibrium. However, now there is a breakdown of this equilibrium. Beijing has specifically mandated that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) be ready for an invasion by 2027. Satellite pictures verify the building of forward-operating sites close to the Taiwan Strait and the deployment of nuclear-capable aircraft. For Taiwan, China's grey-zone warfare, i.e., cyber intrusions, economic pressure, and disinformation campaigns, has become a daily reality. Taiwan has responded urgently in parallel. Under record defence spending, doctrinal changes towards asymmetric warfare, and civil mobilisation projects like Kuma Academy, President Lai Ching-te has supervised Taiwan is getting ready to impose costs, postpone conquering, and oppose collapse, not just survive. The real concern, though, is not how effectively Taiwan gets ready. It is, if the rest of the world is ready to back it. Pete Hegseth's clear warning at the Shangri-La Dialogue that a Chinese invasion 'could be imminent' marks the demise of strategic ambiguity as a policy concept. The U.S. has embraced uncertainty since the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to discourage Taipei from attesting to independence and Beijing from invading. But in a reality where China is openly preparing for war and Taiwan is progressively de facto autonomous, this dual deterrence theory loses relevance. Once a useful strategic instrument, ambiguity today runs the danger of being seen as incoherence. As China probes red lines and practices amphibious assaults, clarity—not caution—may be the better deterrent. After all, deterrent is about resolve rather than only military power. How can enemies be supposed to be discouraged if allies are unsure of what the United States will do should a Chinese attack? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Further, Taiwan generates more than 90 per cent of the most advanced chips and over 60 per cent of the semiconductors used worldwide. One cannot stress its centrality to the global tech economy. Global supply systems would not only be interrupted but also collapse if Taiwan were attacked or blockaded. Industries, including automotive ones, would stop. The development of artificial intelligence would pause. From weapons to cellphones, everything would suffer manufacturing delays. Taiwan becomes a 'choke-point economy' from this vulnerability. Unlike oil-rich Gulf states, Taiwan's geopolitical significance is found inside its fabs, particularly TSMC, the crown jewel of worldwide chip production, not on its territory. Thus, a war over Taiwan is a systematic shock to globalisation itself rather than a regional conflict. None of the 21st-century economic security plans could afford to overlook this. Furthermore, a model of 21st-century warfare is the Taiwan crisis. China's approach is hybrid, not only kinetic. It combines cyberattacks on Taiwanese infrastructure, electromagnetic warfare to disrupt communication, disinformation campaigns on social media, and economic coercion to compel companies and countries interacting with Taipei. Under this framework, Taiwan's security extends beyond force deployments and naval readiness to encompass data protection, satellite resilience, and psychological preparedness. In any future battle, the first salvos might not be missiles but viruses. Emphasising 'whole-of-society' resilience, Taiwan reflects this knowledge. The battlefield of the future is virtual as much as physical. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Taiwan is a normative challenge to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), not only a geopolitical puzzle. With its vibrant democracy with civil liberties, free elections, and strong institutions, Taiwan presents a mirror reflecting what China might have been. For Xi Jinping, letting a culturally Chinese democracy blossom right off his shore is ideologically unacceptable. Taiwan's existence negates the CCP's assertion that authoritarianism is required for order and development. This renders the Taiwan problem existential for Beijing rather than merely a geographical one. It also qualifies Taiwan as a litmus test for democratic solidarity. Where else can moral authority be claimed if the world cannot defend a free, open civilisation threatened by an expansionist autocracy? Furthermore, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and South Korea are becoming increasingly unstable. Japan promised to double its defence budget. Under AUKUS, Australia has escalated military cooperation. The U.S. is being granted access to critical military bases by the Philippines. Still, behind this activity is uncertainty. One can count on the United States. Will Europe get involved? With what threshold should one intervene? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many ASEAN nations, meanwhile, still hedge. Strong trade ties with China help them to postpone confrontation. But hedging, by nature, gets more difficult as uncertainty disappears. As Hegseth pointed out, depending on China economically hampers crisis decision-making. Hedging becomes paralysis eventually. The idea of deterrence relies on a rational actor model, in which nations precisely estimate the costs and benefits. But the Taiwan issue exposes the limits of this approach. China would consider the symbolic loss of Taiwan as more important than any financial outlay. Domestically, political dynamics—nationalism, elite competitiveness, historical grievance—may overwhelm reason. In democratic societies, too, the populace may be reluctant to participate in distant battles, particularly after protracted operations in Afghanistan or Iraq. This results in deterrence tiredness, a hollowing out of trustworthiness resulting from perception rather than competence. China could be planning on such deterioration. In strategic analysis, the human cost is too often absent. Taiwan has a population of 23 million individuals. Long-term psychological anguish, refugee crises across East Asia, and thousands of civilian casualties might all follow from an invasion. Taiwan is an island; there are no overland escape routes unlike Ukraine. Even as the likelihood of violence rises, the humanitarian preparedness for a Taiwan contingency is essentially non-existent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Finally, the waiting game is ending. Taiwan is a moral challenge, a test of will, a fault line of world order, not only a line on the map. Strategic ambiguity is an invitation to miscalculation rather than a cover. The world must choose today whether deterrence is to be revived or merely remembered. Aditya Sinha (X:@adityasinha004) is OSD, Research at Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
The Star
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Taiwan warns of rise in Chinese military activity around region
This image released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defence shows China's Shandong aircraft carrier sailing near Taiwan on March 31. - Taiwan Ministry of National Defence/AP TAIPEI: Taiwan said China escalated military pressure around the region in May, deploying dozens of warships and government vessels daily in what it described as an extreme pressure campaign. China sent an average of 50 to 70 vessels per day across the first island chain - a key strategic arc stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines - between May 1 and 27, said a senior Taiwanese security official, who asked not to be identified, citing government protocol. The official, who spoke at a briefing on Thursday (May 29), called it a record high for May, though did not provide comparable figures from last year. A document shared at the briefing showed the scale and range of the deployments stretching from the Yellow Sea to the East and South China Seas. Tensions have steadily risen since President Lai Ching-te took office in May last year. Beijing, which views the democratic island as part of its territory, has called Lai a separatist and carried out at least seven sets of military drills around the island since his inauguration, a pace not seen in previous years. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday urged partners in Asia to raise defense spending toward five per cent of gross domestic product, warning that more urgency is needed to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Chinese activity peaked around May 27, when more than 70 vessels - mostly naval - were observed operating in the region, according to the Taipei official. Two aircraft carriers, the Shandong and Liaoning, took part in the activities last month, with the Liaoning conducting takeoff and landing drills for warplanes in the East China Sea for the first time, the official said. Chinese patrols also appeared to press closer to Taiwan's 24-nautical mile boundary during joint combat exercises, which the Taipei official said go far beyond Beijing's defense needs. Separate data from Taiwan's Defence Ministry shows around 254 Chinese warships and government vessels were spotted around the archipelago over May 1-27, averaging nine a day, according to Bloomberg calculations. That's slightly up from an average of seven a day last year, the data shows. - Bloomberg
HKFP
21 hours ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Taiwan says China deployed 2 aircraft carrier groups, dozens of ships in May
China deployed two aircraft carrier groups and dozens of ships in waters north and south of Taiwan last month, a Taiwanese security official said Monday, as Beijing keeps up military pressure on the self-ruled island. Up to 70 Chinese ships, including navy vessels, were monitored from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea from May 1-27, a security official said on the condition of anonymity. Beijing has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan in recent years as it pressures Taipei to accept its claims of sovereignty over the island. China has refused to rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, leaving the island to face the constant threat of invasion. 'Its military actions and grey-zone activities have included large-scale deployments across the entire island chain, involving comprehensive maximum pressure,' the security official said in remarks released Monday. 'On average, there have been between 50 to 70 naval vessels and government ships as well as hundreds of sorties by various military aircraft continuously conducting harassment operations.' Some of the ships passed through the Miyako Strait to the Western Pacific Ocean for 'long-distance training, including combined air-sea exercises', the official said. Another 30 Chinese vessels with no name, documentation or port of registry were detected near Taiwan's Penghu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait on May 19 and had been 'deliberately sent to harass', the official said. And a total of 75 Chinese aircraft were involved in three 'combat readiness patrols' near the island during the month, Taiwan's defence ministry figures show. Asia-Pacific's so-called first island chain links Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines, while the Yellow Sea is west of South Korea — all partners of the United States and critical to its influence in the region. 'More provocative' The Taiwanese security official said China's activities in May were 'more provocative than previously observed'. In one incident, Tokyo and Beijing exchanged diplomatic protests each accusing the other of 'violating' national airspace, after a Chinese helicopter and coast guard vessels faced off with a Japanese aircraft around disputed islands. The Chinese actions were a demonstration of 'military expansion' and were aimed at controlling the 'entire island chain and improving their capabilities', the official said. China's deployment coincided with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's speech on May 20 marking his first year in office and came ahead of an annual security forum in Singapore at the weekend. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China was 'credibly preparing' to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia. Beijing, which did not send its Defence Minister Dong Jun to the summit, warned Washington 'should not play with fire'. 'It felt like they were in a state where they could announce something at any moment, trying to seize on some opportunity or excuse to act,' the Taiwanese official said of the Chinese. China has carried out several large-scale military drills around Taiwan since Lai took office.
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Taiwan says China deployed 2 aircraft carrier groups, dozens of ships - International
China deployed two aircraft carrier groups and dozens of ships in waters north and south of Taiwan last month, a Taiwanese security official said Monday, as Beijing keeps up military pressure on the self-ruled island. Up to 70 Chinese ships, including navy vessels, were monitored from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea from May 1-27, a security official said on the condition of anonymity. Beijing has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan in recent years as it pressures Taipei to accept its claims of sovereignty over the island. China has refused to rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, leaving the island to face the constant threat of invasion. "Its military actions and grey-zone activities have included large-scale deployments across the entire island chain, involving comprehensive maximum pressure," the security official said in remarks released Monday. "On average, there have been between 50 to 70 naval vessels and government ships as well as hundreds of sorties by various military aircraft continuously conducting harassment operations." Some of the ships passed through the Miyako Strait to the Western Pacific Ocean for "long-distance training, including combined air-sea exercises", the official said. Another 30 Chinese vessels with no name, documentation or port of registry were detected near Taiwan's Penghu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait on May 19 and had been "deliberately sent to harass", the official said. And a total of 75 Chinese aircraft were involved in three "combat readiness patrols" near the island during the month, Taiwan's defence ministry figures show. Asia-Pacific's so-called first island chain links Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines, while the Yellow Sea is west of South Korea -- all partners of the United States and critical to its influence in the region. 'More provocative' The Taiwanese security official said China's activities in May were "more provocative than previously observed". In one incident, Tokyo and Beijing exchanged diplomatic protests each accusing the other of "violating" national airspace, after a Chinese helicopter and coast guard vessels faced off with a Japanese aircraft around disputed islands. The Chinese actions were a demonstration of "military expansion" and were aimed at controlling the "entire island chain and improving their capabilities", the official said. China's deployment coincided with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's speech on May 20 marking his first year in office and came ahead of an annual security forum in Singapore at the weekend. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia. Beijing, which did not send its Defence Minister Dong Jun to the summit, warned Washington "should not play with fire". "It felt like they were in a state where they could announce something at any moment, trying to seize on some opportunity or excuse to act," the Taiwanese official said of the Chinese. China has carried out several large-scale military drills around Taiwan since Lai took office. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
