Recent developments suggest that China's military is gearing up for anticipated drills following a visit by Taiwan's president to Hawaii and Guam. Taiwan's defense ministry reported the detection of Chinese naval and coast guard ships entering the Taiwan Strait and the western Pacific, along with restricted airspace along China's southeast coast through Wednesday. While there has been no immediate confirmation from the Chinese side, these actions come in the context of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's statement that he would not commit to defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.
China asserts that Taiwan is an integral part of its territory and opposes American support and military sales to the self-governing island. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's recent visits to Hawaii and Guam as part of a Pacific tour have further exacerbated tensions. China maintains that Taiwan, in its view, should not have its own president or foreign relations.
In response to Chinese activities in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's defense ministry has established an emergency response center and initiated combat readiness exercises. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that Taiwan is considered part of China, and the Taiwan issue is deemed an internal affair that China will vigorously defend.
China's military conducted significant exercises around Taiwan following Lai's inauguration in May and his national day speech in October. Notably, similar drills were held after visits by prominent foreign figures, such as Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan. The Taiwan defense ministry highlighted China's airspace restrictions in specific zones off Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, facing Taiwan.
Trump's recent comments on defending Taiwan have added another layer of complexity to the situation. While he refrained from making a commitment, citing the need for negotiation, he mentioned having discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping that did not touch upon the Taiwan issue. Trump expressed hope that China would refrain from any provocative actions.
