Taiwan Braces For Potential Chinese Military Maneuvers Before Presidential Inauguration

Ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Lai Ching-te, Taiwan is on high alert for possible Chinese military exercises, as reported by the island’s chief security official.

What Happened: Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director-General, Tsai Ming-yen, informed Reuters on Wednesday that China has begun to use unconventional strategies. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and perceives Lai, who has consistently offered dialogue, as a threatening separatist.

President-elect Lai, who is scheduled to take office on May 20, rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, a stance that aligns with that of the current President Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai Ming-yen stressed that maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait is in the best interest of the international community, including China.

China is reportedly using a combination of incentives and threats to influence Taiwan’s China policy under the incoming administration. Tsai Ming-yen pointed out the period from June to November, when the Chinese Communists conducted their regular military drills, as a potential time of increased pressure on Taiwan.

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Why It Matters: Over the past four years, China’s military activities around Taiwan have escalated significantly. This year, China has been observed conducting “joint combat readiness patrols” at night, a new development according to Tsai Ming-yen. These patrols have included landing ships and minesweepers, indicating new patterns of military activity.

Since Lai’s election victory in January, China has maintained steady pressure on Taiwan, including coast guard patrols near Taiwanese-controlled islands and opening new air routes in the Taiwan Strait. However, Beijing has also proposed resuming limited Chinese tourism to Taiwan, a proposal Taipei is still considering.

These developments follow a series of events, including a call from China for pragmatic military ties with the U.S. amid Taiwan concerns, and a meeting between Taiwan’s ex-president and Xi Jinping, where the former expressed optimism that disputes could be handled peacefully.

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