Taiwan has raised fresh alarms after detecting large-scale Chinese naval and air activity stretching from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea. Officials in Taipei said the manoeuvres amount to “military operations” that pose a growing threat to the Indo-Pacific amid heightened tensions and unpredictable regional dynamics.
On Friday, Taiwan confirmed that China had deployed warships across vast stretches of maritime territory, far beyond the Taiwan Strait. The operations extended from the southern Yellow Sea through the East China Sea — including waters close to the disputed Diaoyu Islands — and into the South China Sea and Western Pacific.
The spokeswoman for the Presidential Office, Karen Kuo, said Taiwan’s defence and security agencies had “a complete grasp of the situation”, although she declined to disclose how many Chinese vessels were involved. A security source, speaking anonymously, described the deployment as “significant”.
“This indeed poses a threat and impact on the Indo-Pacific and the entire region,” Kuo said, urging Beijing to “exercise restraint.”
Air and sea pressure are increasing around Taiwan
The Taiwanese Defence Ministry later reported that, until 6 am today UTC+8, a total of 29 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels detected around the island.
Of the 29 aircraft, 19 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, and southwestern sections of Taiwan’s ADIZ.
The military in Taiwan said that the ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded by continuing routine tracking and alert measures.
This median line has become a frequent flashpoint as PLA aircraft cross it regularly during joint air–sea combat patrols.
Beijing neither confirms nor denies the manoeuvres
But despite such detailed reporting, so far China has not officially announced any major naval operations in the respective regions. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said naval training on the high seas “complies with international law” and isn’t aimed at any country in particular.
His comments came amid reports that a Chinese flotilla could be en route to Australia.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry similarly said Beijing “has consistently followed a defensive policy” and warned “relevant parties” not to “overreact.”
Military Drills Coincide with China’s Annual Evaluation Season
Taiwanese intelligence chief Tsai Ming-yen recently warned that the peak period of China’s annual military assessment falls between October and December, with routine training likely to rapidly escalate into targeted drills against Taiwan if Beijing so decides.
Beijing’s continued refusal to rule out the use of force to take Taiwan and its expansive claims across almost the whole South China Sea reinforce the concern.
A pattern of pressure
Last year, Taiwan tracked about 90 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels in exercises that included simulated attacks on foreign ships and blockade rehearsals – the biggest maritime drills in years by Beijing. China never officially confirmed those operations.
The intensifying PLA activities reflect the larger strategy aimed at reordering the regional security environment and at testing Taiwan’s readiness.
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US signals possible policy shift
While the United States remains Taiwan’s most important security backer and leading arms supplier, the Trump administration is signaling that regional defense priorities may be readjusted. In a strategy document released Friday, it said U.S. allies Japan and South Korea should assume a larger share of the security burden in Asia.
It comes as an added note of uncertainty for Taiwan, amid the sustained military pressure from China and the recalculating geopolitical math by its partners. Rising activity, rising concern For now, Taiwan says it remains confident in its ability to manage China’s increased military presence. But the scale of the latest operations, taken together with air incursions that challenge long-standing boundaries, reflects a slowly intensifying contest over regional influence and military dominance.
Security analysts warn that, with China pushing its presence across multiple seas simultaneously, routine manoeuvres risk becoming a trigger point in one of the world’s most volatile flashpoints.
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