China stages unannounced Pacific drills in ‘silent intimidation’ of Taiwan, officials say

China conducted large-scale, unannounced military exercises across the western Pacific and around Taiwan earlier this month, deploying more than 100 naval and coast guard vessels in what Taiwanese officials described as “silent intimidation”.

“The drills include simulated strikes against military targets, cities including Taiwan, and are bigger in scope than China’s past officially announced exercises directed at Taiwan,” a senior Taiwanese security official said.

He said the exercise involved coordinated forces from the east, north and south theatre commands of China, indicating China is preparing for a potential blockade of Taiwan and wider military action in the western Pacific.

“It is a silent exercise – and in effect, silent intimidation,” the official said, comparing the manoeuvres to a robber threatening a bank teller without triggering an alarm.

The ships had numbered some 70 by Friday, but the Chinese air and maritime forces were still patrolling east of the Philippines, according to Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu. Along with the ships, the Chinese navy had dispatched the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group, he said.

The Defence Ministry declined to comment to Reuters. Beijing has said its aircraft carrier movements are routine and are not aimed at any specific country.

The drills came ahead of next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, where US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.