Crisis Management for a Conflict with North Korea

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Chinese military launches large-scale drills around Taiwan

Asahi Shimbun - E | English | News | April 3, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

The Chinese military has initiated large-scale drills around Taiwan, featuring an aircraft carrier battle group, which serve as a stern warning against Taiwan’s pursuit of formal independence. The exercises, involving naval, air, ground, and rocket forces, have been labeled by the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command as a significant response aimed at containing Taiwan independence. No prior notice was provided for the drills, which China conducts regularly, asserting sovereignty over Taiwan despite the island's de facto independence. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence reported tracking 19 Chinese navy vessels and monitoring the Shandong aircraft carrier as it entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.

The Taiwanese government has expressed concern over the potential for a surprise attack masked as a military exercise. Taiwan's Defense Minister, Wellington Koo, condemned China's actions as destructive to regional peace. In Taipei, citizens reported feeling tense due to the military escalation, though many remained focused on economic issues and U.S. political developments. China's Coast Guard also initiated law enforcement patrols around Taiwan concurrently with the drills, which follow a previous large-scale exercise earlier in March.

Chinese officials attributed the military exercises to the provocative actions of Taiwan’s pro-independence President Lai Ching-te, who has proposed a 17-point strategy to bolster national security. This strategy includes measures like trying espionage cases in military courts and tightening immigration for Chinese citizens. Additionally, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned Lai's rhetoric as inflammatory and vowed to respond decisively. The Chinese military has intensified its operations, sending larger groups of warplanes and naval vessels toward Taiwan in an attempt to erode the island's defensive capabilities and public morale. These actions come after Taiwan and China have experienced rising tensions post-2016, following Beijing's decision to sever nearly all contact with Taipei.

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