Taiwanese Defence Minister Wellington Koo has announced that China is increasing its military activities and conducting “access-denial” military exercises in the western Pacific Ocean.
Reuters reported early Tuesday, November 10, that China’s exercises involve one of its aircraft carriers and other naval units.
According to the report, Joseph Wu, Secretary-General of Taiwan’s National Security Council, has released details of the deployment of more than 100 Chinese navy and coast guard vessels near Taiwan, in the South China Sea and across the Pacific Ocean.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also reported a significant increase in the number of Chinese military aircraft operating around Taiwan last week, although Beijing has not officially announced any military exercises.
Speaking to reporters in parliament, Wellington Koo said: “China has indeed been conducting access-denial exercises in the western Pacific using the Liaoning aircraft carrier group and other naval training units.”
The concept of “anti-access/area denial” refers to measures designed to prevent foreign forces from intervening in a conflict.
It is worth noting that China has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, although it says it prefers “peaceful reunification.”
