Taiwan’s defense ministry reported detecting 45 Chinese aircraft and 14 warships near the island on Thursday (February 27), marking the highest recorded military activity this year.
The escalation follows Taiwan’s condemnation of China’s recent live-fire drills off its southern coast.
Taiwan Condemns China’s Military Drills
In a statement, Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed that Chinese military aircraft and vessels were spotted near the island within a 24-hour period ending at 6 AM Thursday (10 PM GMT, Wednesday).
This surge in military activity comes just a day after Taiwan accused Beijing of conducting unannounced live-fire exercises about 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers) off its southern coast. Taipei denounced the drills as “dangerous” and a violation of “international norms.”
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has ramped up its military presence around the island in recent years. Taiwan, however, maintains that it is a self-governed democracy and rejects Beijing’s territorial claims.
China’s Increasing Military Presence Near Taiwan
Earlier this month, Taiwan’s defense ministry also reported a high number of Chinese military maneuvers, including the presence of six Chinese balloons, nine military aircraft, six warships, and two official vessels near the island.
China’s frequent military activities are seen as part of its ongoing pressure campaign against Taiwan. Officials have also raised concerns over the security of undersea communication cables after a Chinese-owned cargo ship was suspected of cutting one northeast of the island earlier this year.
There are fears that Beijing could target key infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to blockade or seize Taiwan.
New Zealand and Australia Raise Concerns
China’s aggressive military actions have drawn international concern. New Zealand expressed alarm over the unexpected deployment of Chinese warships off its western coast during high-level discussions in Beijing, according to Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Thursday.
Additionally, dozens of commercial flights were forced to reroute last week after China announced live-fire drills in a busy air corridor between Australia and New Zealand.
Both countries criticized Beijing for failing to provide adequate notice. Australian officials pointed out that the last-minute warning was issued on a channel that air traffic controllers do not regularly monitor.