Overview

• China has sent a total of 43 military aircraft and seven ships near Taiwan in a recent 24-hour period, marking an increase in military pressure exerted on the self-ruled island.
• Taiwan has responded to this by monitoring the situation and activating all standard responses, which include scrambling jet fighters, dispatching ships, and activating land-based missile systems.
• The Chinese military's aggressive maneuvers are viewed as an attempt to exhaust Taiwanese morale, aiming to wear down its pilots, personnel, and equipment.
• Despite the pressure from China, Taiwan's status of de-facto independence remains popular among the island's voters and the defense budget has been increased for purchasing new equipment from United States, Taiwan's chief ally, and for local production of some items, including submarines.
• At an international defense forum, China's second-ranking military official, Gen. Zhang Youxia, reiterated threats to retaliate against any moves toward establishing Taiwan's formal independence, asserting China's resolve to keep Taiwan under its sovereignty at all costs.