Taiwan flags ‘obvious’ threat from 53 Chinese vessels in wide sweep of waters

Taiwan has identified an "obvious" threat from 53 Chinese vessels operating in a wide area of sea stretching from southern Japan to Taiwan and off the Philippines, a senior Taiwan official has warned. The secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, Joseph Wu, emphasized that the situation is "obvious" and urged vigilance regarding the activities of Chinese warships and Coast Guard vessels.

Wu posted a map on X showcasing the locations of 53 ships, including 34 naval warships and an aircraft carrier named Liaoning, which was positioned to the east of the Philippines. Other formations were also found off Taiwan's east and southeast coasts, as well as near the southern part of Japan. This map was also published in May by Wu.

The defense ministries of China, the Philippines, and Japan have not yet commented on the matter. In recent months, China's relations with both Japan and the Philippines have deteriorated, with China objecting to Japanese support for Taiwan and engaging in a tense standoff with Manila in the South China Sea. Taiwan's defense minister, Wellington Koo, stated that the country is not content with any efforts aimed at projecting deterrence that might threaten peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Koo also mentioned that his ministry is maintaining appropriate awareness of Chinese military warship activity, alongside intelligence exchanges with partner nations. China does not acknowledge the separate sovereignty of Taiwan, and its government maintains that only the island's people can decide their future, stating that Beijing has no legitimate claim over the territory.