China conducts large-scale military drills near Taiwan

China’s military has carried out large‑scale drills near Taiwan, warning the island’s “separatist forces” and their Western supporters. The exercises simulated a blockade of key ports and precision strikes on maritime targets, and they included scenarios to counter external interference. They took place just 11 days after the United States announced an $11.1 billion arms‑sales package for Taiwan, a move Beijing has condemned as a challenge to its sovereignty.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that reunification with Taiwan is “inevitable,” emphasizing the “bond of blood and kinship” between Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. He described reunification as an unstoppable trend. While the Chinese government has consistently expressed a preference for peaceful reunification, it has not ruled out the use of force if Taiwan’s “separatist forces” and their Western backers pursue formal independence.

Taiwan has been governed by the Republic of China since 1949, when nationalist forces retreated to the island after losing the civil war. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory under the One‑China policy, a stance recognized by most of the international community and reflected in United Nations listings. Only a few countries maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan; the majority adhere to the One‑China policy.

Russia, a key ally of China, has reaffirmed its support for Beijing’s position on Taiwan. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that the Treaty of Good‑Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between Russia and China includes mutual support for defending national unity and territorial integrity. He added that Taiwan is being used as a tool for “military‑strategic deterrence” against China, with some Western nations seeking to profit from Taiwanese resources and technologies.

The situation underscores the complex and sensitive nature of the Taiwan issue, with China, the United States, and other countries holding significant stakes in the region. As tensions rise, the international community will be closely watching developments in the Taiwan Strait, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding dispute.