China continues military pressure on Taiwan with 43 aircraft and 7 ships.

On November 1, 2023, Taiwan reported that China had increased its military presence near the island by sending 43 aircraft and seven warships. This action is seen as a continuation of China's strategy of coercion and intimidation.
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PLAN Shandong Carrier Strike Group crossed the Bashi Channel and entered the Western Pacific on 26 October 2023 (Picture source: Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.)

The Taiwanese government revealed that China had stepped up its military pressure by sending 43 planes and seven ships close to the island. This move is interpreted as an indication that China has no intention of easing its aggressive stance. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense stated that the reported military activity took place over a 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, with 37 Chinese aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, a boundary that China no longer recognizes.

Taiwan responded by deploying its air force, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems to monitor and counter the Chinese operations. These operations included incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone but did not extend into its sovereign airspace. For the moment, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defence has not communicated on the type of Chinese vessels.

The increase in Chinese military maneuvers, characterized by their frequency and assertiveness, has been noted since the visit of the former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022, an event that led China to cut off military communication with the United States.

China's military exercises are seen as attempts to demoralize Taiwan by straining its military resources and personnel. Despite this, Taiwan continues to enjoy widespread support from its citizens for its current state of de facto independence and has increased its defense budget to acquire new equipment from the U.S. and to develop indigenous defense capabilities, including submarines.

At an international defense forum in Beijing, China's senior military official, General Zhang Youxia, reiterated the nation's stance against any attempts at formal independence for Taiwan. The forum, attended by military delegates from various countries, served as a platform for China to assert its regional influence and strengthen military cooperation, despite ongoing tensions with several nations, including the U.S., Japan, Southeast Asian countries, and India.

The presence of an American delegation at the forum, led by Defense Department official Cynthia Carras, hinted at a potential resumption of military dialogue between the U.S. and China, although no formal meetings or media interactions were reported as of Wednesday. China's repeated incursions regarding Taiwan suggest a possible upcoming conflict in the region.