TAIPEI, Dec 11, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - China has expanded military drills around
Taiwan aimed at drawing "a red line" for the next US president, Taipei
authorities said Wednesday, branding Beijing a "troublemaker".

Beijing's biggest maritime drills in years involve about 60 warships and 30
coast guard vessels deployed from near the southern islands of Japan to the
South China Sea, a senior national security official told AFP on the
condition of anonymity.

China has also ramped up military aircraft activity closer to Taiwan, with
100 sorties detected over the past two days, figures from the it's defence
ministry show.

There has been no public announcement by Beijing's army or Chinese state
media about increased military activity in the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait,
South China Sea or Western Pacific Ocean.

But a recent Pacific tour by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te that included
two stops in US territory drew fury from Beijing, which claims the democratic
island as part of China's territory.

The security official said Wednesday that China's plans for the massive
maritime operation began in October and were aimed at demonstrating that
Beijing could choke off Taiwan and also to "draw a red line" ahead of the
next US administration.

"China uses President Lai's overseas visit as a pretext, with Taiwan only
serving as an excuse," the official said.

"The real objective appears to be asserting control within the first island
chain and establishing strategic deterrence ahead of the US presidential
transition."

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Wednesday that China's increased military
activity around the island, including its huge maritime drills and frequent
aircraft deployments, was evidence that Beijing was a "troublemaker".

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States was monitoring
China's "latest activity" and would ensure "nobody does anything to change
the status quo in the (Taiwan) Strait".

"Again, our policy hasn't changed. We'll continue to do what we can to help
Taiwan acquire the means to defend itself," Austin told reporters at a US
base in Japan on Wednesday.

- Simulating attacks, blockade -

During the drills, Chinese warships have simulated attacking foreign ships
while the coast guard has practised intercepting commercial vessels as well
as disrupting and blockading sea routes, the official said.

China also held "joint operations with Russia" over several days in November,
the official said.

Recent bad weather had "posed challenges for smaller vessels" involved in the
drills, they said.

Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which has not
ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.

To press its claim over self-ruled Taiwan, China has ramped up the deployment
of fighter jets and warships around the island in recent years.

China also opposes any international recognition of Taiwan and especially
bristles at official contact between Taipei and Washington.

In addition to his two recent stopovers on American soil, Lai spoke with
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, which drew a barrage of criticism from
China.

Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday that China would
"resolutely defend" its sovereignty.

- 'Significantly larger' -

The security official said the sea drills were "significantly larger" than
Beijing's maritime response to then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to
Taipei in 2022, which was China's largest-ever war games around Taiwan.

China has held four major military exercises in just over two years,
including the drills in response to Pelosi's visit and two since Lai took
office in May.

Beijing usually announces its military exercises, but the official said one
of the reasons it may have decided to stay silent was to avoid overshadowing
China's annual Central Economic Work Conference.

China's leadership will gather Wednesday for a closed-door meeting to hammer
out plans to boost the economy next year, reports said.

The Taiwan defence ministry's daily tally of Chinese aircraft detected around
the island was 53 on Wednesday and 47 on Tuesday.

Wednesday's figure was the highest number of aircraft detected in a single
day since a record 153 were reported on October 15 after China staged large-
scale military drills in response to Lai's National Day speech days earlier.