By Emeka Blast 
China Ramps Up Incursions, Taiwan Sends Warships
Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have surged as China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) intensified its military operations around Taiwan, deploying an unprecedented number of naval and coast guard vessels in what Taiwanese officials describe as the largest maritime operation in nearly three decades. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported detecting 14 Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and one official ship operating around the island by 6 a.m. today, with nine aircraft crossing the median line into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan has deployed warships and mobile missile groups to counter the escalating threat, raising its alert level to “high” and establishing an emergency response center.
The Chinese deployment, which began escalating on Monday, involves nearly 90 navy and coast guard ships stretching from the southern Japanese islands to the South China Sea, according to Taiwanese defense officials. Lt. Gen. Hsieh Jih-sheng, a senior intelligence officer, stated that the PLA is forming two “walls” of maritime presence—one near Taiwan’s perimeter and another beyond the First Island Chain, encompassing Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. “They are sending a clear message: trying to make the Taiwan Strait an internal sea,” Hsieh said, noting the operation’s aim to block external forces, including U.S. and allied navies, from intervening in a potential conflict. No live-fire exercises have been detected, but the scale, described as larger than the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, has alarmed Taipei.
Taiwan’s response includes combat readiness drills, with naval vessels like the guided-missile destroyer Ma Kong DDG1805 monitoring Chinese ships, such as the PLA’s Xi’an DDG15, near its waters. The MND condemned the incursions as “unilateral provocations” that undermine Indo-Pacific stability, vowing to “address all gray zone incursions” to protect national security. Taiwanese forces have also tracked 47 Chinese aircraft in the past 24 hours, with 26 operating north of Taiwan off Zhejiang province, six in the Taiwan Strait, and 15 to the southwest, simulating attacks on foreign vessels and practicing blockades, per a senior Taiwanese security source.
The escalation follows Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s Pacific tour, including stops in Hawaii and Guam, which Beijing denounced as “separatist” acts. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out force to achieve “reunification,” views Lai’s interactions with U.S. officials, including a call with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as provocations. The PLA’s actions also coincide with U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and President-elect Donald Trump’s ambiguous stance on defending the island, with Trump recently stating he would not commit to military support, citing negotiation needs.
Posts on X reflect global concern, with users like @ianellisjones noting the PLA’s “naval formation training” in Fujian, directly across from Taiwan, as a sign of escalating pressure. Others, like @MarioNawfal, highlighted Taiwan’s preparations for a Chinese invasion through its Han Kuang exercises, simulating blockade scenarios. Analysts suggest Beijing’s unannounced deployment aims to keep Taiwan guessing, with J. Michael Cole of the Global Taiwan Institute noting that ambiguity complicates responses from Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S.
The U.S., Taiwan’s primary arms supplier, condemned China’s actions as “destabilizing,” with the State Department reaffirming support for Taipei. Japan and the EU also expressed concern, with Japan scrambling fighters in response to a Chinese UAV circling near Taiwan. As China’s $231.36 billion defense budget fuels increasingly sophisticated drills, Taiwan faces mounting pressure to bolster its defenses, relying on U.S.-supplied F-16V jets and domestic missile systems. The situation remains tense, with no confirmation from Beijing on whether these maneuvers are formal drills or a prelude to further escalation.
