China and Russia Step Up Naval Activity Near Taiwan

Taiwan is tracking an “upward trend” in Chinese naval movements during the peak military exercise season, including joint drills with Russia, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Monday.

Tsai Ming-yen, director-general of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, said the July to September period was the peak season for Chinese drills and that the government was comparing current operations with previous missions to identify possible new tactics.

Four Chinese naval formations are currently operating in the Western Pacific, Tsai said.

Chinese and Russian naval forces are also due to hold joint exercises this week in the waters and airspace off the Chinese city of Qingdao. Tsai said Taiwan’s government had been aware of the drills since last week and had held internal briefings in advance.

China and Russia, through their joint operations, are seeking to counter the “denial and defense strategy” built by the US and its allies in the First Island Chain, Tsai said. The area stretches from Japan down to Taiwan, the Philippines and Borneo.

Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, said Taiwan had tracked a record of more than 110 Chinese military and coast guard ships across the First Island Chain as of Friday.

China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reuters, mja)