China expands military drills around Taiwan

TAIPEI (AFP) — China has expanded military drills around Taiwan aimed at drawing “a red line” for the next United States (US) president, Taipei authorities said Wednesday, branding Beijing a “troublemaker.”

Beijing’s biggest maritime drills in years involve about 60 warships and 30 coast guard vessels deployed from near the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea, a senior national security official told Agence France-Presse on the condition of anonymity.

China has also ramped up military aircraft activity closer to Taiwan, with 100 sorties detected over the past two days, figures from the island’s defense ministry show.

There has been no public announcement by Beijing’s army or Chinese state media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean.

But a recent Pacific tour by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te that included two stops in US territory drew fury from Beijing, which claims the democratic island as part of China’s territory.

The security official said Wednesday that China’s plans for the massive maritime operation began in October and were aimed at demonstrating that Beijing could choke off Taiwan and also to “draw a red line” ahead of the next US administration.

“China uses President Lai’s overseas visit as a pretext, with Taiwan only serving as an excuse,” the official said.

“The real objective appears to be asserting control within the first island chain and establishing strategic deterrence ahead of the US presidential transition.”

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Wednesday that China’s increased military activity around the island, including its huge maritime drills and frequent aircraft deployments, was evidence that Beijing was a “troublemaker.”

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States was monitoring China’s “latest activity” and would ensure “nobody does anything to change the status quo in the (Taiwan) Strait.”

“Again, our policy hasn’t changed. We’ll continue to do what we can to help Taiwan acquire the means to defend itself,” Austin told reporters at a US base in Japan on Wednesday.

During the drills, Chinese warships have simulated attacking foreign ships while the coast guard has practised intercepting commercial vessels as well as disrupting and blockading sea routes, the official said.