China Conducts Large-Scale Military Drills Around Taiwan, Raising Regional Security Concerns

TAIPEI : China has conducted a large-scale, unannounced military exercise across the western Pacific and waters surrounding Taiwan, prompting fresh concerns over regional security and the possibility of escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

According to a Reuters report published on November 13, a senior Taiwanese security official said that more than 100 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels had gathered across the region at the height of the exercises earlier this month.

The manoeuvres reportedly included simulated attacks on military forces and cities, including locations in Taiwan. Taiwanese officials described the operation as a campaign of “silent intimidation” intended to increase pressure on the island without formally announcing a military exercise.

The reported deployment was larger than China's previous formally announced Taiwan-focused exercise, known as “Justice Mission 2025”, according to the Taiwanese official cited by Reuters.

Multiple Chinese military commands reportedly involved

The exercises reportedly involved coordinated naval forces from China's Eastern, Northern and Southern Theatre Commands.

Taiwanese officials said the scale and coordination of the deployment suggested that China could be practising operations beyond a possible conflict around Taiwan, including broader military activities across the western Pacific.

The exercises also reportedly involved China's Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group. A Taiwanese security official further claimed that a Chinese submarine launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Yellow Sea into mainland China during the period of the manoeuvres. This specific claim has not been independently verified.

By Friday, November 13, the number of Chinese naval and coast guard vessels operating within the region had reportedly fallen to around 70, although Taiwanese officials said Chinese naval formations and air force activity remained elevated.

Taiwan calls the manoeuvres a security threat

Taiwan's Defence Minister Wellington Koo has described China's activities in the western Pacific as “area denial” exercises involving an aircraft carrier and other naval formations.

The term refers to military operations designed to prevent or restrict an opposing force from entering or operating in a particular area. In the context of Taiwan, such capabilities could make it more difficult for the United States or other partners to provide military assistance in a potential conflict.

Taiwan's National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu also said that Chinese naval formations, including the Liaoning carrier strike group, remained active in waters east of the Philippines.

Taiwan has said it is closely monitoring the movements of Chinese naval vessels and aircraft and will continue coordinating intelligence and surveillance activities with partners.

Beijing maintains its position on Taiwan

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly called for reunification, while refusing to rule out the use of force.

Taiwan, which has its own democratically elected government and military, rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and maintains that its future must be decided by its people.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently reiterated Beijing's preference for peaceful reunification in a policy speech, without publicly referring to the use of military force.

China's defence ministry did not respond to Reuters' request for comment on the latest reported exercises. Beijing has previously described Liaoning's western Pacific training as routine activity intended to test long-range operational capabilities and not directed against any particular country.

Military activity comes ahead of Trump–Xi meeting

The reported exercises come ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit scheduled to take place in Shenzhen, China, next week.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet during the summit, making the military developments particularly sensitive for relations between the world's two largest economies.

Taiwan also participates in APEC, adding another diplomatic dimension to the situation.

Analysts and regional security officials are watching closely to determine whether China's military activities are intended primarily as political pressure or form part of broader preparations for possible military contingencies.

The latest developments underline the continuing security challenges in the Taiwan Strait and the wider Indo-Pacific, where any military confrontation could have significant consequences for international trade, regional stability and global security.