China Steps Up Naval Activities Around Taiwan, Heightening Cross-Strait Tensions

Tensions between China and Taiwan continue to rise as the Chinese military ramps up its presence in waters surrounding the island. In a recent update, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported the detection of eight Chinese naval vessels and one official Chinese ship operating in areas near Taiwan. Notably, no Chinese military aircraft were sighted during this particular timeframe.

According to Taiwan's defense authorities, the situation remains under close surveillance. The MND assured that the Taiwanese armed forces are fully prepared to respond if necessary, ensuring the safety of the nation’s airspace and territorial waters.

In a separate development on the same day, China launched satellites from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The launch’s flight path crossed over central Taiwan toward the Western Pacific, but as it occurred at an altitude beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, it posed no immediate threat to Taiwan’s security. Even so, Taiwanese forces monitored the launch closely to guard against any unforeseen developments.

This naval movement followed a much larger military operation the previous day. On Wednesday, the MND reported a significant spike in Chinese activity around Taiwan, detecting 31 military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and one official ship operating nearby. Of particular concern were 22 aircraft sorties that crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line — an unofficial but widely respected boundary separating Chinese and Taiwanese-controlled airspace. These aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ), prompting Taiwan’s armed forces to remain on high alert.

While Taiwan faces increasing military pressure, diplomatic tensions are also simmering. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) strongly criticized China for organizing two summits inviting Taiwanese participants to Beijing. The council accused China of disguising these events as cultural and media exchanges when, in reality, they are intended to "lecture" and exert influence over Taiwanese media and cultural representatives.

The MAC emphasized that such meetings do not represent genuine cross-strait dialogue or cooperation. Instead, they are seen as political maneuvers by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to subtly advance its agenda of influencing public opinion in Taiwan. The council reiterated that these tactics would not gain the support of Taiwanese society, which values its democratic freedoms and autonomy.