Dozens of Chinese ships, including approximately 60 warships and 30 coast guard vessels, have conducted exercises simulating attacks on foreign vessels and disrupting sea routes near Taiwan to “draw a red line” ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump taking office, a Taiwanese security official said on Tuesday.
The large-scale naval drills, described as China’s most extensive in years, spanned from Japan’s southern islands to the South China Sea, the senior national security official told news agency AFP.
“The real objective appears to be asserting control within the first island chain and establishing strategic deterrence ahead of the US presidential transition,” the official added.
Planned since October, the drills were designed to demonstrate China’s ability to blockade Taiwan while sending a strong message to the incoming US administration.
Neither the People’s Liberation Army nor Chinese state media have announced any increased military presence in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, or Western Pacific Ocean, where Taiwan reported detecting Chinese vessels.
A spokesperson from Beijing’s foreign ministry said that China would “resolutely defend” its sovereignty.
