China 'encircles' Taiwan during weekend live-fire military drills

China conducted a new round of combat drills in the waters around Taiwan this weekend, at one point forcing Taipei to scramble planes to defend its air space.

Taiwan maintains an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) against incursion by hostile aircraft. Its Air Force scrambled fighter planes on Friday to deter 18 Chinese aircraft that entered the air defense zone.

The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command said that naval and air force assets carried out drills from Friday to Sunday to “further test and improve the joint combat capability of multiple services and arms,” according to Reuters, but did not elaborate.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said that China deployed bombers, fighters and anti-submarine aircraft in its weekend drills. There were further incursions on Saturday and Sunday, but with fewer aircraft.  

Through this exercise, Beijing was warning Taiwan’s allies that it has the ability to completely encircle the island, reports The Times of London.

“Air encirclement drills” have been performed before, justified as safeguarding national sovereignty, but the most recent set of drills are being taken more seriously by Taiwan’s residents in light of recent events.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fueled speculation that its Communist ally will also attempt to seize Taiwan by force, sparking renewed interested in civic defense. Beijing has also crushed pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong under the controversial 2020 national security law.

The Chinese government has long sought to retake Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory, but maintains it does not want to use force.

“Reunification is the right way forward, and seeking foreign support to pursue independence will lead nowhere,” said Chinese vice foreign minister Le Yucheng.

“The reunification of China must be achieved and will definitely be achieved. This historical process is unstoppable.”

Taipei will begin its annual military drills on May 16, where it will simulate possible Chinese attacks.

The United States has reaffirmed its support for Taiwan, but recent polls show that island residents have less confidence it will intervene militarily if China chooses to invade after watching the West’s response to the Ukraine war.