China Launches Major Military Drills Around Taiwan | Video

China’s military announced on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, that it had deployed its army, navy, air, and rocket forces to encircle Taiwan as part of drills designed to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island. Beijing maintains that democratic Taiwan is an integral part of its territory and has repeatedly warned that force may be used to reunify the island under Chinese control.

In recent years, Beijing has escalated its presence around Taiwan with an increased number of fighter jets and naval vessels to reinforce its sovereignty claims—a move that Taipei vehemently rejects. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command, stated that the current exercises are intended to issue a “stern warning and forceful deterrence” to those advocating for Taiwan’s separation.

The drills are centered on several operational tactics, including sea-air combat-readiness patrols, coordinated efforts to secure comprehensive superiority, direct assaults on maritime and land targets, and blockading strategic zones and sea lanes. “China’s armed forces are converging on Taiwan from multiple directions,” Shi Yi remarked, describing the operations as “a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.”

Last month, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te denounced China as a “foreign hostile force” and outlined strategies to counteract Chinese espionage and infiltration. The Eastern Theater Command, responsible for overseeing activities along the Taiwan Strait, released a graphic titled “closing in” that depicted ships and fighter jets surrounding the island with a message warning that “Taiwan separatists” were “Courting Disaster Upon Themselves.” Another graphic controversially portrayed President Lai as an insect being roasted over an open fire.

Potential flashpoint

These drills represent the most significant exercises since February, when Taipei reported that China had conducted “live-fire” combat drills involving aircraft and warships approximately 40 nautical miles (74 kilometres) off the island’s southern coast. Taiwan’s military responded by mobilizing forces to “monitor, alert and respond appropriately,” even as Beijing dismissed the incidents as mere “routine training” and “pure hype.”

Taiwan continues to be a flashpoint in the potential conflict between China and the United States—the island’s primary backer and largest arms supplier. Despite the United States’ legal obligations to provide military support to Taiwan, Washington has long adhered to a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding the deployment of its forces in the event of a Chinese attack.

Last week, Taiwan’s deputy defence minister attended a ceremony in the United States celebrating the unveiling of the first F-16V fighter jet built specifically for the island. The production of these aircraft is scheduled to conclude next year, with deliveries expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The ongoing dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan following their defeat in the Chinese civil war against Mao Zedong’s communist forces. Although Communist China has never governed Taiwan, the island’s history includes periods under Dutch, Spanish, Qing dynasty, and Japanese rule, alongside its indigenous heritage.

Taiwan says detects 19 Chinese warships around island

Taipei reported on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, that its defence ministry had detected 19 Chinese warships in the vicinity of Taiwan within the 24 hours leading up to 6:00 am (2200 GMT Monday), further intensifying the security concerns surrounding the island.