- China conducts live-fire exercises 40 nautical miles off Taiwan’s southwest coast.
- Taiwan labels drills a threat to regional stability and dispatches military forces.
- Taiwan detains Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of severing undersea communication cable.
- China denies allegations, accusing Taiwan of political manipulation.
- Incidents raise concerns over China’s military assertiveness in the Taiwan Strait.
On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, China’s military conducted live-fire exercises about 40 nautical miles off Taiwan’s southwest coast. In response, Taiwan’s defense ministry strongly condemned the drills, calling them provocative and dangerous. They argued that the exercises threatened regional peace and stability. Furthermore, Taiwan claimed that China violated international norms by setting up a training zone without prior warning, putting international flights and maritime safety at risk.
Meanwhile, Taiwan reported that 32 Chinese military aircraft carried out joint combat readiness drills with warships in the Taiwan Strait. The defense ministry emphasized the strategic importance of this area, as it is close to Kaohsiung and Pingtung. These southwestern cities host crucial naval and air bases. Consequently, Taiwan expressed concern over the proximity of the drills to its key population centers, fearing potential security risks.
To address the situation, Taiwan deployed its sea, air, and land forces to monitor the activities closely. The defense ministry labeled the exercises a “blatant provocation” to regional stability and warned of possible escalation. Moreover, Taiwan urged the international community to recognize the threat to peace in the Indo-Pacific region. It also firmly rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims, stressing that only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future.
Undersea Cable Incident Fuels Tensions
Taiwan’s coast guard detained the Hong Tai, a Togo-flagged cargo ship with a Chinese crew, as they suspected it of cutting an undersea communication cable. This cable connects Taiwan to the Penghu Islands and is crucial for communication. Consequently, Taiwan accused the vessel of being a national security threat because it ignored multiple communication attempts before authorities detained it.
Interestingly, this incident marks the fifth undersea cable malfunction in Taiwan this year, which raises serious concerns about possible sabotage. In fact, Taiwan compared these incidents to similar cases in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, authorities noted that the Hong Tai was already on a watchlist of 52 China-linked vessels seen as threats to Taiwan’s communication networks.
However, China quickly rejected Taiwan’s accusations, calling them political manipulation by Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party. According to Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, undersea cable malfunctions are common maritime accidents. She pointed out that these incidents happen globally over a hundred times each year. Additionally, she criticized Taiwan for exaggerating the issue without providing solid evidence.
Despite these accusations, China remains firm on its sovereignty claims over Taiwan. During a meeting on cross-strait relations, senior Chinese leader Wang Huning emphasized the need to “unswervingly push forward the cause of reunification.” Furthermore, he urged Beijing to take control and lead the narrative on all matters related to Taiwan.
Strategic Implications and Regional Security
Recently, military drills and the undersea cable incident have highlighted China’s growing military assertiveness in the Taiwan Strait. Analysts believe that these exercises could be rehearsals for possible military action against Taiwan. Moreover, they warn that China’s actions clearly show its capability and intent to operate in the area, which raises serious concerns about regional security.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s defense ministry stated that China’s actions reveal its position as the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the international community is watching the situation closely. Therefore, many urge all parties to engage in constructive dialogue to avoid escalating tensions.
Furthermore, China’s military drills near Taiwan and the undersea cable incident underline the increasing tensions between the two sides. As a result, both nations are strengthening their military postures, which raises the risk of miscalculation and potential conflict. Thus, to maintain regional stability and prevent further escalation, diplomatic efforts and open communication channels are crucial.