Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-watching-chinese-carrier-movements-sources-say-war-games-may-start-this-2024-12-03/
Taiwan’s defense ministry has stated this past Tuesday that it is observing a Chinese aircraft carrier moving near the coast, this vessel was the Chinese Liaoning. Taiwan has observed this vessel partaking in other Chinese war games near Taiwan in previous months and exercises. A Russian naval fleet has approached Taiwan’s contiguous zone and conducted training and simulations with Chinese vessels in a “foreign vessels and aircraft attack” simulation. China has deployed over 40 vessels in the region and are expected to start drills after Lai visits the United States. Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te has scheduled a visit to the United States which has upset China at the U.S. China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan but Lai has repeatedly rebuffed these claims while still pursuing positive relations with Beijing, in which he has been unsuccessful. A source has stated that the Chinese military has been training through tough weather and winter conditions to possibly be ready for an attack on Taiwan at any moment.
China has been moving naval vessels around Taiwan for a few months now, and seem to be completely comfortable in doing so. They appear to feel no threat from any other nation when they conduct military and naval drills just off the coast of Taiwan. They have even invited their ally, Russia, in these drills in which both countries partake in attack simulations. Evidently, China is preparing a military for a possible offensive campaign in the Pacific. The attack simulations are especially worrisome for a country like Taiwan, with no standing military. The Chinese are not simply performing naval maneuvers or patrols, they are practicing attacks and defense against foreign forces, such as the United States. China’s deploying of the Liaoning and roughly 40 other vessels is not worrisome to Lai, as he states “the Ministry of National Defence takes a serious view of the enemy situation and handles this matter very seriously. We have very solid preparations and are not afraid of any threats.” Lai Ching-te may not be afraid of China, but their defense force and the rest of the world are most definitely taking note of these military maneuvers near Taiwan and in the Pacific.
Taiwan’s Lai is still going to visit the United States even at Chinas disdain, and feels confident doing so. He sees no real threat and might hope to bolster relations and garner military support from the United States in response to China’s recent war simulations. China on the other hand wants no Taiwanese visit to the United States. They may hope that their war games they are performing on Taiwan’s doorstep may influence Lai to stay within his country as they intimidate him. But it appears Lai has no intentions of obeying the Chinese, which he has openly defied.
China’s revisionist views are definitely creating a ripple effect felt throughout the world. From their economic actions to their military actions, they have gotten the attention of the major unipolar country, the United States. They hope to shake up the world order and to emerge as a top influencer of events within the globe.