Taiwan on Friday said China had deployed a large number of warships for “military operations” spanning several major waterways—from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea—warning that the scale of activity posed a growing security concern for the region.
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, neither confirmed nor denied the movements. Presidential office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said Taiwan’s defense and security agencies were closely monitoring developments and had a “complete grasp of the situation.” She did not specify how many vessels were involved, but a security source described the deployment as “significant,” speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity.
According to Kuo, the operations extended well beyond the Taiwan Strait, reaching the southern Yellow Sea, waters near the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, and further south into the South China Sea and even the Western Pacific. “This indeed poses a threat and impact on the Indo-Pacific and the entire region,” she said, urging Beijing to “exercise restraint.” Taiwan, she added, remained confident in its ability to respond.
China’s military and state media have not acknowledged any expanded operations in the areas Taiwan cited. Asked about the reports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that the country follows a defensive military posture.
“The Chinese navy and coast guard strictly operate in relevant waters according to Chinese domestic law and international law,” he said, urging “relevant parties” not to overreact or engage in “groundless hype.” China has never ruled out using force to take Taiwan and also claims nearly the entire South China Sea.
Earlier this week, Taiwan’s intelligence chief Tsai Ming-yen noted that October to December is typically the “peak season” for China’s annual military evaluation drills. He warned that Beijing could use routine exercises as a cover for operations directed at Taiwan.
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