China conducts air and sea drills near Taiwan in response to US and
Taiwanese statements
[March 18, 2025]
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — An unusually large number of Chinese military
ships, planes and drones entered airspace and waters surrounding Taiwan
between Sunday and Monday, the self-governing island's Defense Ministry
said.
China said the drills were a response to recent statements and actions
by the United States and Taiwan. Beijing launches such missions on a
daily basis, seeking to wear down Taiwanese defenses and morale,
although the vast majority of the island’s 23 million people reject its
claim of sovereignty over Taiwan.
Taiwanese Defense Minister Wellington Koo told legislators the drills
were further evidence China was a “troublemaker” endangering peace in
the region.
The ministry on Tuesday published on social media images of Chinese
drones and ships. It said 43 out of 59 entered Taiwan’s air defense
identification zone but that no confrontations were reported. Taiwan
monitored the situation and deployed aircraft, navy ships and coastal
anti-ship missile defenses in response, the ministry said.
It’s unclear what prompted the large Chinese deployment. Daily figures
often vary widely based on statements by the Taiwanese authorities or
their U.S. partners.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday that the
drills were “a resolute response to foreign connivance and support for
Taiwan independence, and a serious warning to Taiwan separatist forces.”
China’s military actions are “necessary, legal and justified measures to
defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” Mao
said.
“The United States deleted the literal expression that reflected the
one-China principle and that did not support Taiwan independence on the
website of the U.S. Department of State, which indicates wrong signals
to Taiwan separatist forces,” Mao was quoted as saying.
Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te also raised Beijing's hackles
last week when he said that Taiwan law designates mainland China as a
“foreign hostile force” and said tougher measures were being taken to
prevent Chinese subversion through the media and civic exchanges. Lai
also warned of the danger of influential figures and current and retired
military members selling secrets to China.
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This photograph released by Taiwan Ministry of National Defense
taken from a Taiwan Air Force F-16V, shows a Chinese CAIG Wing Loong
II drone near Taiwan, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Taiwan Ministry of
National Defense via AP)
The Taiwan Strait is an international body of water and one of the
most important channels for global trade. While China does not
interfere with civilian shipping in the Strait — or in the South
China Sea to the south that it claims almost in its entirety — it
routinely objects to actions by the U.S. and other foreign navies in
the area.
China on Saturday lashed out at accusations by top diplomats from
the Group of 7 industrialized democracies who said Beijing is
endangering maritime safety.
The G7 in a joint statement condemned China's “illicit, provocative,
coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to alter the
status quo in such a way as to risk undermining the stability of
regions, including through land reclamations, and building of
outposts, as well as their use for military purpose.”
China said the statement was “filled with arrogance, prejudice and
malicious intentions.”
Faced with the rising threat from China, Taiwan has ordered new
missiles, aircraft and other armaments from the U.S., while
revitalizing its own defense industry.
Taiwan and China split amid civil war 76 years ago, but Chinese
leader Xi Jinping has continued to make bringing the island to heel
a top priority of his administration even as it faces economic
headwinds and a race for high technology with the West.
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