China deployed a record 125 warplanes, including its Liaoning aircraft carrier, ships, and drones, in large-scale military exercises around Taiwan on Monday. The drills, simulating a blockade of key ports, were seen as a response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s rejection of Beijing’s sovereignty claims during Taiwan’s National Day celebrations last week.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office labeled the exercises as a “punishment” for Lai’s advocacy of Taiwan’s independence. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported that 90 aircraft entered its air defense identification zone, while Taiwan’s leadership remained defiant, vowing to counter China’s threats and calling for an end to military provocations that undermine regional stability.
The heightened tensions emphasize the growing strain in the Taiwan Strait, as China seeks to assert dominance, while Taiwan continues to resist annexation and defend its democratic system.
