In response to the significant mobilization of Chinese military forces near Taiwan, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that they have initiated combat readiness drills and are closely monitoring the situation.
On Monday, China announced that seven areas east of the Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian coasts are to serve as reserved airspace zones until Wednesday, with military warships from the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Theater Commands moving into areas surrounding the Taiwan Strait.
During the press conference, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said that while China has not officially declared these actions as military exercises, the scale of operations is unprecedented. Chinese military movements have been observed to extend into the Western Pacific and between the first and second island chains, significantly surpassing past activities. The ministry pointed out that the scale of the operations - even forming a blockade against foreign military intervention - represents a de facto military exercise, despite China’s claims of it being routine training.
This escalation coincides with President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) recent overseas visit, which included stopovers in Hawaii and Guam. Reports suggest China may soon conduct a “Joint Sword-2024C” military exercise to express dissatisfaction with Lai’s trip and his U.S. transit. The U.S. State Department urged restraint on Monday, stressing that President Lai's routine transits should not be used as an excuse for military pressure on Taiwan.
In an email response to a query from Taiwan's Central News Agency, Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery remarked that the most concerning aspect of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) exercises targeting Taiwan is their scale and level of sophistication. He said these pose a more direct threat to Taiwan’s security. He added that the Chinese exercises serve to send strategic messages to the Taiwanese people and provide operational training opportunities for the PLA.