In a chilling demonstration of military intimidation, China has once again intensified its live-fire drills near Taiwan, flagrantly ignoring international norms and regional stability. This time, the target of Beijing’s saber-rattling is Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s upcoming Pacific diplomatic trip, with whispers of further military exercises looming large.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently announced live-fire drills around Niushan Island, a mere 105 km from Taiwan. While Beijing frames these as “routine exercises,” the timing and scope scream otherwise. These actions follow a year of ramped-up provocations, including an unprecedented show of force in October when 153 Chinese aircraft and naval vessels encircled Taiwan in a simulated multi-domain attack.
Far from routine, such drills serve as psychological warfare—normalizing territorial violations and eroding Taiwan’s defenses. By engaging in “grey-zone” tactics like regular incursions into Taiwanese airspace and waters, Beijing aims to wear down Taiwan’s military and political resolve.
Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai has condemned the drills, calling them an “unnecessary tension” that jeopardizes regional peace. Yet, China appears undeterred, even emboldened. The rhetoric from Beijing grows more belligerent with every passing month. Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, characterized Lai’s trip as a “provocative violation” of the One-China principle, further ratcheting up the stakes.
President Lai’s visit to Pacific allies—including the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau—has been framed as routine diplomacy. However, Beijing is poised to exploit it as a convenient excuse for escalation. According to multiple regional security officials, China may use the trip to stage a new series of exercises, dubbed “Joint Sword – 2024C.” These could involve expanded naval and air force drills aimed squarely at intimidating Taiwan and signaling dominance to the incoming U.S. administration under Donald Trump.
China’s real aim, however, is clear: to assert its dominance over the first island chain, a crucial geopolitical zone encompassing Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, while drawing a so-called “red line” for U.S. intervention.
The United States and its allies are not standing idly by. In a marked shift, naval forces from Canada, Germany, Australia, and Japan have joined the U.S. in high-visibility patrols through the Taiwan Strait, asserting the right to freedom of navigation. These efforts underline growing international alarm over Beijing’s aggressive posturing.
Yet, Washington’s focus remains split amidst crises in the Middle East and Europe. A U.S. official remarked that while China poses the “long-term threat,” efforts to dial down tensions are underway. However, Beijing appears uninterested in détente. Its actions, from record-breaking military deployments to inflammatory rhetoric, speak of a regime more interested in showcasing power than pursuing peace.
Beijing’s aggressive drills are far from harmless. They destabilize the region, strain international relations, and serve as a stark reminder of the lengths to which China is willing to go to enforce its territorial claims. Taiwan, a thriving democracy with its own elected government, is no subordinate state. As President Lai declared, “China has no right to represent Taiwan.”
With tensions escalating, the international community must act decisively to counter China’s growing militarization. Anything less would be an invitation for further aggression—not just in Taiwan, but across the Indo-Pacific.
