China’s military drills heighten tensions in Taiwan

China's recent military exercises near Taiwan, which involved 153 aircraft and 36 naval and coastguard vessels, have raised significant alarm in Taipei. A senior national security official in Taiwan emphasized that the scale of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) activity indicates a serious threat and increased pressure on the island.

Taiwan is urging the international community to take a firmer stance against Beijing, particularly condemning China's lack of advance notice regarding the exercises, which it views as a violation of international law and detrimental to regional peace, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The official stated, "Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are tied to global prosperity," underscoring Taiwan's commitment to strengthening its defenses while seeking support from allied nations to deter Chinese military aggression.

Taiwan's defence minister previously warned that China's escalating military operations make it increasingly difficult to distinguish between drills and potential aggression. The PLA's air maneuvers have surged dramatically, from fewer than 20 incursions into Taiwan's self-declared buffer zone in 2019 to 2,459 so far this year. Since these incursions occur outside Taiwan's airspace, countering them has been a challenge for Taipei and Washington.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. considers any non-peaceful attempts by China to alter Taiwan's status a grave concern, committing to provide Taiwan with defensive capabilities. While President Biden has assured support in the event of a Chinese attack, Taiwanese officials express concerns that recent US arms sales are not adequately strengthening Taiwan's defenses against increasing PLA pressure.

The military exercises have intensified worries, with officials noting that while war is not deemed imminent, China's capacity to transition from drills to actual conflict is growing. Notably, 25 of the Chinese vessels came within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan's coast, and the drills included preparations for a potential blockade of Taiwan’s ports and military bases. While no missiles were launched toward Taiwan, the PLA did conduct missile operations, further heightening tensions in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva