Taiwan says China deployed 2 aircraft carrier groups, dozens of ships
Taipei, Taiwantaiwanchinadefence
Monday,02 June,2025
Escort squadrons of the Chinese Navy Task Group 162 boards a warship at Apapa harbour in Lagos, on July 4, 2023. Three Chinese warships are visiting Nigeria as part of growing naval cooperation between the two countries, officials said on Monday. The visit comes after US defence officials last year expressed concern over Chinese plans for a military base on West Africa’s Atlantic coast. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)
Some of the ships passed through the Miyako Strait to the Western Pacific Ocean for “long-distance training, including combined air-sea exercises”, the official said.
Another 30 Chinese vessels with no name, documentation or port of registry were detected near Taiwan’s Penghu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait on May 19 and had been “deliberately sent to harass”, the official said.
And a total of 75 Chinese aircraft were involved in three “combat readiness patrols” near the island during the month, Taiwan’s defence ministry figures show.
Asia-Pacific’s so-called first island chain links Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines, while the Yellow Sea is west of South Korea — all partners of the United States and critical to its influence in the region.
– ‘More provocative’ –
The Taiwanese security official said China’s activities in May were “more provocative than previously observed”.
In one incident, Tokyo and Beijing exchanged diplomatic protests each accusing the other of “violating” national airspace, after a Chinese helicopter and coast guard vessels faced off with a Japanese aircraft around disputed islands.
The Chinese actions were a demonstration of “military expansion” and were aimed at controlling the “entire island chain and improving their capabilities”, the official said.
China’s deployment coincided with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s speech on May 20 marking his first year in office and came ahead of an annual security forum in Singapore at the weekend.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China was “credibly preparing” to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia.
Beijing, which did not send its Defence Minister Dong Jun to the summit, warned Washington “should not play with fire”.
“It felt like they were in a state where they could announce something at any moment, trying to seize on some opportunity or excuse to act,” the Taiwanese official said of the Chinese.
China has carried out several large-scale military drills around Taiwan since Lai took office.
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© Agence France-Presse
