45 aircraft, 14 warships: Taiwan reports largest Chinese military presence in 2025 after ‘live-fire’ drills
Taiwan recently reported the largest Chinese military presence in 2025, detecting 45 Chinese aircraft and 14 warships operating near the island. This significant military activity follows China’s live-fire drills conducted about 40 nautical miles off Taiwan’s southern coast, which involved 32 military aircraft and warships. The drills were condemned by Taiwan as a “blatant provocation” and a threat to regional stability.
Provocation and Response: The live-fire exercises were seen as a response to Taiwan’s seizure of a Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of damaging an undersea telecom cable connecting Taiwan to its outlying islands. Taiwan scrambled its military forces in response, deploying sea, air, and land forces to monitor and respond to potential threats.
Regional Tensions: China’s military activities are part of a broader strategy to assert dominance in the region. The drills have raised concerns over regional stability, with Taiwan emphasizing that China is the primary threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific.
Military Build-Up: China continues to enhance its military capabilities, with significant improvements in naval and air forces. However, despite these advancements, China is unlikely to use large-scale force against Taiwan in 2025 due to concerns over military readiness and economic stability.
International Implications: The U.S., Taiwan’s largest arms supplier, maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding potential military intervention, while other nations like Australia and Vietnam have expressed concerns over China’s military activities in the region.
