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

Key Points:

• China conducted a large, unannounced military exercise across the western Pacific and around Taiwan in early November, involving over 100 vessels and simulated attacks, described by Taipei officials as "silent intimidation" aimed at pressuring Taiwan and other governments ahead of major international meetings.
• The naval deployment surpassed China's previous large-scale drills "Justice Mission 2025," indicating a significant escalation in military pressure on Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, raising concerns of potential conflict among Western nations.
• The drills included coordinated operations from multiple Chinese theatre commands and a Chinese submarine launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile within Chinese territory, signaling Beijing's effort to integrate regional fleets for broader western Pacific operations.
• The military exercises coincided with Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech urging peaceful reunification with Taiwan, though China has not renounced the use of force, and ahead of the APEC summit in Shenzhen where U.S. and Chinese leaders are expected to meet.
• Taiwan's defense and security officials highlighted continued high Chinese military activity near Taiwan despite a recent decrease in vessel numbers, while Chinese state media warned Taiwan's ruling party against pursuing independence, threatening severe consequences.