China mobilizes navy, air, and missile forces for Taiwan military drills

China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched extensive military drills near Taiwan on April 1, involving naval, air, missile, and ground forces in a show of strength aimed at testing combat readiness and pressuring the island.

Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the PLA's Eastern Combat Command Zone, stated that the exercises, which began on April 1, will see Chinese military forces advancing toward Taiwan from multiple directions, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“The PLA Eastern Combat Command Zone will engage ground troops, navy, air force, missile, and other military units to practice approaching Taiwan from different directions,” the statement read.

The drills are designed to “test the actual combat capabilities of the Eastern Combat Command Zone forces” by simulating a range of strategic operations. These include combat patrols to establish air and sea superiority, simulated strikes on land and maritime targets, and measures to blockade vital areas and sea lanes, Shi Yi noted.

“This is a stern warning and forceful deterrence against separatist forces advocating Taiwan’s independence. It is a legitimate and necessary action to protect China’s sovereignty and national unity,” he emphasized.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has been closely monitoring Chinese military activity in recent weeks. On March 22, Taipei reported that 47 Chinese aircraft and seven naval vessels had approached the island. Of these, 41 aircraft crossed the median line into Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern air defense zones. Taiwan’s defense forces responded by tracking the movements and activating countermeasures.

Earlier, on March 18, Taiwan designated 2027 as the year when a potential Chinese invasion could occur. The island has been conducting its own military exercises in preparation for a possible blockade or attack.

The United States has taken note of China's increasing military activity. The Pentagon, alongside Taiwanese authorities and military experts, has been analyzing scenarios in which China could attempt to isolate Taiwan, forcing it into submission through economic and military pressure rather than a full-scale invasion.

Bloomberg reported that the latest Chinese exercises could be testing the Trump administration's foreign policy, which prioritizes countering Beijing’s ambitions in East Asia while urging Europe to bolster its defenses against Russia.

During recent visits to the Philippines and Japan, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to countering China’s growing influence in the region. He pledged to provide missile systems, troops, and other resources to strengthen defenses against Beijing’s military maneuvers.

He further assured that the US would maintain a “credible deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific, including the Taiwan Strait. Taipei welcomed these commitments, with Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chialong expressing appreciation for US and Japanese support in addressing China’s challenges to the global order.

China has repeatedly conducted military drills near Taiwan, particularly since President Lai Ching-je took office in Taipei nearly a year ago. Beijing considers Taiwan, home to 23 million people, as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve unification.

With tensions escalating, analysts believe China’s military exercises serve as both a demonstration of power and a message to Taipei and its allies. The ongoing maneuvers signal Beijing’s readiness to escalate pressure as Taiwan strengthens its defensive ties with the US and regional partners.

By Tamilla Hasanova