Overview
- China’s Eastern Theater Command reported long-range live-fire exercises north of Taiwan and continued air-sea operations including simulated strikes, air-defense and anti-submarine drills.
- Taiwan’s defense ministry said 130 Chinese military aircraft were detected over a 24-hour period through Tuesday morning, along with 14 warships and eight other Chinese government vessels operating nearby.
- Taipei placed its forces on high alert and condemned the maneuvers as military intimidation, while Chinese coast guard units declared new patrols near outlying islets including Matsu and Wuqiu.
- Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration warned that more than 100,000 passengers would be affected, canceling 84 domestic flights and rerouting hundreds of international services during the live-fire windows.
- China framed the two-day operation as a response to expanded U.S. support for Taiwan and recently announced sanctions on 20 U.S. defense firms, as U.S. President Donald Trump publicly downplayed the drills’ immediate threat.