Taiwan announced on Monday that it is monitoring increased activity by the Chinese navy, as China enters the July-September period, during which its military exercises traditionally peak. The director-general of Taiwan's National Security Bureau, Tsai Ming-yen, told reporters that authorities are comparing this year's force deployments with those of previous years to determine whether Beijing is implementing new operational tactics or altering its force layout. According to him, four Chinese naval formations are currently operating in the Western Pacific, while the overall mobilization of the Chinese navy and other maritime forces shows a clear upward trend. The Chinese Ministry of Defense did not immediately comment on the statements.
Anxiety over new military tactics
Taiwan's security agencies are examining whether the latest movements reflect changes in China's military strategy, which could alter the security balance in the region. Authorities systematically analyze Chinese military operations as Beijing continues to increase pressure on the self-governed island through air and naval missions. Taiwan has repeatedly warned that the reaction time in the event of potential Chinese military action is constantly shrinking due to the increasing frequency and complexity of Chinese operations around the island.
Joint exercises between China and Russia in focus
At the same time, Taiwan is closely monitoring the expansion of military cooperation between China and Russia. The Chinese Ministry of Defense and Russian state media announced on Sunday that Chinese and Russian naval forces will conduct joint exercises this week in the waters and airspace near the Chinese city of Qingdao. Tsai Ming-yen stated that Taiwanese authorities were already aware of the planning for the exercises since last week and had conducted relevant internal security briefings prior to the official announcement. According to him, the increasingly close military cooperation between China and Russia aims to counter the defensive strategy formulated by the United States and its allies along the so-called "First Island Chain."
What is the "First Island Chain"
The First Island Chain constitutes a strategically important geographical line stretching from Japan, through Taiwan and the Philippines, to Borneo. According to military analysts, it is one of the most vital defensive zones in the western Pacific, as it separates China's coastal waters from the open Pacific Ocean. The United States and its allies have reinforced military cooperation in the region with the goal of maintaining freedom of navigation and deterring potential military aggression, while China is gradually expanding its naval presence beyond this line.
Record number of Chinese warships
Taiwan estimates that Chinese military activity has reached unusually high levels. The secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, Joseph Wu, stated via social media that by Friday, Taiwanese authorities were tracking more than 110 Chinese warships and coast guard vessels throughout the First Island Chain, a number that constitutes an historical high. This increased presence reflects, according to Taiwan, China's comprehensive effort to intensify military pressure around the island while simultaneously expanding its operational footprint in the Western Pacific.
The dispute over Taiwan remains at the center
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of military force to reunify it with the mainland. Taiwan rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, arguing that only its people can decide the island's future. In recent years, China has significantly intensified military exercises around Taiwan, regularly dispatching warships and military aircraft into neighboring maritime and aerial zones. In 2023, Taiwan had also detected two Russian warships operating to its east, an event that highlighted the growing military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow.
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