China could launch military drills near Taiwan over Lai’s Pacific visit: Sources

TAIPEI – China is likely to launch military drills in the coming days near Taiwan, using President Lai Ching-te’s upcoming trip to the Pacific and scheduled US transit as a pretext, according to assessments by Taiwan and regional security officials.

Mr Lai will start a visit to Taipei’s three diplomatic allies in the Pacific on Nov 30, and sources told Reuters he was planning stops in Hawaii and possibly the US territory of Guam in a sensitive trip coming shortly after the US election.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and the most important issue in its relations with Washington, has a strong dislike of Mr Lai, whom Beijing calls a “separatist”.

Mr Lai’s office has yet to confirm details of what are officially stopovers in the US, but is expected to do so shortly before he departs, sources familiar with the trip have previously said.

Beijing could conduct military manoeuvres around or shortly after Mr Lai’s trip, which ends on Dec 6, said four officials in the region briefed on the matter who declined to be identified due to its sensitivity.

China’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment, though the government has urged the US not to permit Mr Lai to transit.

Mr Chen Binhua, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Nov 27 that Mr Lai’s transit stops were “essentially provocative acts that violate the one-China principle”.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said in a statement that any deliberate attempt to create tension in the Taiwan Strait would threaten regional security and undermine peace and stability.

“It would not be looked upon favourably by people on either side of the strait or the international community, and nor is it the proper behaviour of a responsible modern country,” it added.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

China has already staged two rounds of major exercises around Taiwan in 2024 to pressure Taipei, one in May and one in October, dubbed Joint Sword – 2024A and B, respectively.

China could “repackage” ongoing regular military activities in the South China Sea or the East China Sea, moving them closer to Taiwan and rebranding them “Joint Sword – 2024C”, according to a Taiwan security official.

Beijing could expand the size of its regular “joint combat readiness patrol” that typically involves naval and air force drills near Taiwan during Mr Lai’s visit and launch a “targeted” exercise towards the end of the trip, the source said.

Between 20 and 30 Chinese naval vessels are involved in the ongoing military manoeuvres this week in the South China Sea, the source added.

‘Red line’

Beijing wants to show the incoming US administration of President-elect Donald Trump that the first island chain is “China’s sphere of influence” and Mr Lai’s trip could become a “pretext”, the official said, referring to an area that runs from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines and on to Borneo, enclosing China’s coastal seas.

“Beijing hopes to draw a red line and establish its power” during the US government transition and extend its sphere of influence, the official said, adding the military drills were meant for the US and its allies.

A second source, a Taiwan-based regional security official, said the drills would probably be more limited in scope than in the two earlier rounds in 2024, given unstable winter weather conditions in the Taiwan Strait.

A third source, familiar with security assessments around Taiwan, said China could use exercises in the coming weeks to test the bottom line of the Trump administration.

Two of the sources said more favourable weather conditions may prompt an earlier or delayed display of force in the days around Mr Lai’s trip.

Taiwan presidents typically take advantage of stopovers in the US going to and from far-flung allies to give speeches and meet friendly politicians.

Mr Lai will be visiting the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 remaining countries maintaining official diplomatic ties with Taipei.

It would not be unprecedented for China to respond militarily to this trip. It did so in August 2023 when then Vice-President Lai returned from the US, and in April 2023 upon then President Tsai Ing-wen’s return from California.

Mr Lai and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide their future. REUTERS