The People’s Liberation Army is carrying out a series of naval and aerial maneuvers around Taiwan that analysts from the Institute for the Study of War say may be a rehearsal for a blockade of the island. Unlike previous large-scale operations, Beijing has provided no official announcement or name for the exercise, which coordinates ships from the North, East, and South Sea fleets to demonstrate China’s ability to sever Taiwan’s international shipping and air access.
The current deployment involves more than 100 naval and coast guard vessels, including the aircraft carriers Liaoning and Fujian. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported that the buildup was accompanied by an uptick in aerial activity, tracking 49 aircraft sorties on Nov 2 and 3, with 31 flights entering the island’s air defense identification zone.