China is conducting military exercises in the Western Pacific involving its Liaoning aircraft carrier group and other naval formations, in what Taiwan has described as “area denial” drills designed to restrict the ability of outside forces to intervene in a potential conflict.
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo confirmed the exercises on Tuesday, following a reported increase in Chinese naval and air force activity around the island and across the wider Indo-Pacific region. The developments have renewed concerns in Taipei about Beijing’s military intentions and the possibility of a broader confrontation involving the United States and its regional allies.
The reported exercises come ahead of next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, where US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as Taiwan’s local elections later this month.
What China’s Area Denial Drills Mean for Taiwan
Speaking to reporters at parliament, Koo said China had conducted area denial exercises in the Western Pacific involving the Liaoning carrier group and other naval training formations.
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Area denial, commonly associated with the military concept of anti-access/area denial (A2AD), involves developing capabilities to prevent an opposing force from entering or operating effectively within a particular region.
In the Taiwan context, this strategy is particularly significant because it could make it more difficult for the United States or other allied forces to intervene if China attempted to use military force against the island.
The objective would be to restrict access to the surrounding waters and airspace, complicating the movement of foreign naval forces and military aircraft towards Taiwan.
Such capabilities form an important part of China’s broader military modernisation. The country’s expanding naval presence and growing ability to operate farther into the Pacific have increased concerns among regional governments about the balance of military power in the Indo-Pacific.
Rising Chinese Military Activity Raises Regional Concerns
Taiwan’s latest warning follows reports of increased Chinese military deployments around the island and across nearby maritime regions.
Last week, Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu published details of deployments involving more than 100 Chinese naval and Coast Guard vessels operating off Taiwan, in the South China Sea and into the Pacific.
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry also reported a substantial increase in Chinese military aircraft activity around the island.
Although Beijing has not formally announced new military exercises, the scale and geographic spread of the reported deployments have drawn attention from Taiwanese officials.
Koo said Taiwan’s military was closely monitoring Chinese activities through joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. He added that Taipei would continue exchanging intelligence with allies and respond appropriately to developments.
He also warned that the military activity could undermine peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
Beijing Describes Liaoning Exercises as Routine Training
China has previously defended the Liaoning carrier group’s operations in the Western Pacific, describing them as routine military training rather than exercises directed against a specific country.
Last month, China’s Defence Ministry said the carrier’s deployment was part of an annual programme intended to test long-range operations and open-ocean combat capabilities.
The latest comments from Taipei, however, suggest that Taiwan views the exercises within a broader pattern of Chinese military pressure.
The distinction is important. While Beijing presents its carrier deployments as part of normal military development, Taiwan interprets the increasing frequency and geographic reach of Chinese operations as a potential challenge to its security.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control, although it says it prefers peaceful reunification.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, maintaining that only the Taiwanese people have the right to determine their political future.
US-China Relations Add Diplomatic Significance
The timing of the reported drills adds another dimension to the developments.
Trump and Xi are expected to meet at the APEC summit in Shenzhen next week, creating an opportunity for discussions on trade, technology and wider strategic tensions between the two powers.
Military activity around Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues in their relationship. Beijing opposes US support for Taiwan, while Washington maintains its own security commitments and strategic interests in the region.
The reported area denial exercises are particularly relevant because their potential purpose would be to complicate any US or allied military response to a crisis in the Taiwan Strait.
For Washington, maintaining the ability to operate across the Western Pacific is central to its regional security posture. For Beijing, strengthening its ability to deter or delay foreign intervention is an important element of its military strategy.
The exercises therefore highlight how developments around Taiwan are connected to the broader strategic competition between China and the United States.
What Happens Next for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific?
Taiwan is likely to continue monitoring Chinese naval and air force deployments as the APEC summit approaches. Its reliance on intelligence-sharing and surveillance capabilities will remain important in assessing whether the latest activity represents routine training or a more significant military signal.
The immediate concern is not necessarily that the exercises indicate an imminent attack, but that China’s expanding ability to operate across the Western Pacific could gradually alter the regional military balance.
Taiwan’s local elections later this month also provide an important political backdrop, as Beijing’s military pressure remains a central issue in the island’s domestic security debate.
Ultimately, the latest drills illustrate the growing importance of military access and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. As China strengthens its ability to restrict foreign intervention and the United States maintains its regional presence, Taiwan remains at the centre of a strategic contest with implications far beyond the island itself.
With information from Reuters.
