Taiwan has condemned China’s latest military exercises near its southwestern coast, calling them a direct threat to regional stability. The drills, which included a “joint combat readiness” operation involving 32 Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels, took place without prior warning, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry.

The exercise zone was reportedly located around 40 nautical miles (74 km) off Taiwan’s coast, near major population and economic centers such as Kaohsiung, home to a key naval base and the island’s largest port. Taiwan’s defense officials described the drills as a “blatant provocation” that endangered both international shipping and commercial flights.

Escalating Military Activity

The Chinese military maneuvers are part of a broader pattern of increased operations around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. Over the past three years, China has conducted multiple large-scale war games near the island. In response, Taiwan deployed its own forces to monitor and respond to the drills. By late Wednesday, Chinese military units had reportedly withdrawn from the area, but Taiwan vowed to maintain surveillance.

China’s defense ministry did not confirm the latest exercises or issue an official statement. However, a senior Chinese official, Wang Huning, reiterated Beijing’s position on reunification, emphasizing the need to “firmly grasp the initiative” in cross-strait relations and advance the cause of unification. Taiwan’s government has repeatedly rejected China’s sovereignty claims, asserting that only its citizens can determine the island’s future.

Communications Disruptions Add to Tensions

The recent military activity coincided with a dispute over damage to undersea communication cables off Taiwan’s southwestern coast. Taiwan detained a Chinese-linked cargo vessel suspected of involvement, though Beijing dismissed the accusation as politically motivated. Taiwanese officials said the ship was already on a monitoring list due to its past activity near critical infrastructure.

This marks the fifth incident of undersea cable damage affecting Taiwan in recent years, with some drawing parallels to disruptions in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Taiwan has previously expressed concerns over potential foreign interference in its telecommunications networks.