Taiwan Says China Deploys Warships in New ‘Military Operations’ Near Island

Taiwan on Friday accused China of deploying a large number of warships across multiple maritime zones—from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea—describing the extended naval operations as a growing “threat” to regional security.

Beijing, which considers the self-ruled island part of its territory, did not confirm or deny the maneuvers. Presidential office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said Taiwan’s defense ministry and security agencies were closely tracking Chinese movements and had a “complete grasp of the situation.” She did not disclose the number of vessels involved, but a security source told AFP the deployment was “significant,” speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to Kuo, the operations were not confined to the Taiwan Strait. Chinese ships were detected as far north as the southern Yellow Sea, near the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, and as far south as the South China Sea and the Western Pacific.

“This indeed poses a threat and impact on the Indo-Pacific and the entire region,” she said, calling on Beijing to “exercise restraint.” Taiwan, she added, remained confident in its ability to manage the situation.

China’s military and state media have not announced any heightened activity in the waters Taiwan referenced. When asked about the reports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that China adheres to a defensive posture.

“The Chinese navy and coast guard strictly operate in relevant waters in accordance with domestic and international law,” he said, urging “relevant parties” not to “overreact or engage in groundless hype.”

Beijing has never ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control and also lays sweeping claims to the South China Sea. Earlier this week, Taiwan’s intelligence chief Tsai Ming-yen noted that October to December is typically the “peak season” for China’s annual military assessment drills. He warned Beijing could use routine exercises as a cover to conduct operations aimed at Taiwan.