Taiwanese authorities announced widespread disruptions to air traffic, with 74 domestic flights canceled on Monday and warnings that approximately 857 more flights could be affected. This precautionary measure was taken in response to intensified Chinese military exercises in the vicinity of the island. The action was implemented to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft amid escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait's airspace.
Details of the maneuvers and live ammunition
Amid escalating tensions, Beijing officially announced large-scale military exercises dubbed “Mission Justice 2025,” which include live-fire drills beginning Tuesday. According to a statement by Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command, participating forces include units from the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces. These exercises will take place across five strategic areas in the sea and air surrounding Taiwan, effectively creating a temporary military encirclement that has angered Taipei, which condemned the move as provocative.
Background to the conflict and tensions across the strait
These military movements come as part of a long series of tensions between Beijing and Taipei. China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary, while Taiwan has enjoyed democratic self-rule since 1949. In recent years, China has intensified its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure on the island, particularly following high-level visits by Western officials to Taipei or the victory of pro-independence candidates in Taiwanese elections, making the Taiwan Strait one of the world's most volatile flashpoints.
Strategic importance and impact of the maneuvers
The repercussions of these maneuvers extend beyond the cancellation of domestic flights, posing a threat to global trade. The Taiwan Strait is a vital waterway through which a significant percentage of the world's shipping containers pass, and any disruption in this region directly impacts global supply chains, particularly in the semiconductor and technology sectors. China typically uses these drills, which simulate a "blockade," to demonstrate its ability to isolate the island from the outside world and to test the readiness of its forces for joint operations.
Regional reactions and concerns
These exercises are raising widespread regional and international concern, with neighboring countries such as Japan and the Philippines, as well as the United States, closely monitoring the situation. International actors fear that any miscalculation or unintended clash between the military forces operating in such close proximity could escalate into a wider conflict, threatening the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. For its part, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense confirmed that it is closely monitoring the Chinese military's movements and that its forces are on high alert to respond to any violation of the island's territorial waters or airspace.
