A new report claims that China has been showcasing its military might over the past month by deploying a significant number of naval and coast guard ships in the Pacific region, including aircraft carriers near Taiwan and Japan.
Reuters cited three regional security officials and regional military activity documents that indicate China deployed larger fleets of navy, coast guard, and other ships near Taiwan, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the southern Japanese islands in recent weeks than the country typically deploys.
According to Reuters, regional military activity documents show that China deployed almost 60 ships on May 21 and over 70 ships on May 27. The outlet noted that roughly 75% of the ships deployed by China were naval ships, including destroyers, coast guard vessels, and guided-missile ships.
The military documents obtained by Reuters also indicated that China deployed the Shandong Carrier Strike Group to the South China Sea and the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group to the southeastern coast of Taiwan.
Addressing China’s movements in the regional waters from Japan through Taiwan and from the Philippines to Borneo, an anonymous security official told Reuters that China was “exerting pressure on the whole of the first island chain amid global geopolitical uncertainties.”
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The security official told Reuters that China is “trying to reinforce their dominance.” The anonymous official added that China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier conducted military drills this month in simulation of attacks against foreign aircraft and ships near the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea.
Another security official told Reuters that it was “obvious” that China has increased its naval presence over the past month.
“China clearly wants to show these are its home waters and it can operate when and where it wants,” the anonymous official stated.
According to Reuters, China has announced multiple live-fire military drills over the past couple of weeks, including a drill facing the southwestern region of Taiwan. The outlet reported that in addition to China’s military exercises, the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group has been tracked this week as it passes through Japan’s southern islands.
On Wednesday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters, “The Japanese government intends to keep a close eye on relevant movement and do its utmost in carrying out monitoring and surveillance activities.”
