"China's Taiwan Encirclement Drills Demonstrate Blockade Capability... Avoiding Escalation to Armed Conflict"

China's 'Taiwan Encirclement' Military Drills Mark Fourth Since 2022

As the Chinese military conducts large-scale military exercises encircling Taiwan, escalating tensions in Northeast Asia, Professor Kang Jun-young of the Graduate School of International Area Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies assessed that the situation will not escalate to armed conflict.

On the 15th, Professor Kang said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "From the perspective of Chinese leaders, failing to handle the Taiwan issue well would call their leadership qualities into question," adding, "Moreover, without the island of Taiwan, the United States cannot conduct military operations from the Okinawa Islands to the South China Sea, making it a strategic key point." He continued, "As China has grown militarily and economically compared to the past and asserts sovereignty over Taiwan, the U.S. is supporting Taiwan to counterbalance this, and the conflict is intensifying," he analyzed.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Since the previous day, China has been conducting large-scale military exercises involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force. These exercises were a response to the 'two-state theory' mentioned in Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's National Day (Double Ten Day) speech and were carried out in a manner encircling the Taiwan Strait and the northern and southern parts of Taiwan Island. This is the fourth such encirclement military exercise since 2022.

Professor Kang emphasized that Taiwan is also a strategic key point for the United States, stating, "The U.S. needs to hold Taiwan firmly." He added, "Taiwan's nickname is 'America's unsinkable aircraft carrier,' and if Taiwan falls under China's control, it would affect South Korea, Japan, and the Pacific, making it geopolitically very important."

Regarding the Chinese military's deployment of aircraft carriers, he viewed it as a demonstration to the outside world of their capability to blockade Taiwan. He also explained that even if it does not lead to direct armed conflict, the structure inevitably leads to repeated and ongoing conflicts between the two sides.

He said, "Given the upcoming U.S. presidential election, it is practically difficult to use force, but by deploying aircraft carriers, China has blocked the route for the U.S. to come to Taiwan's aid," adding, "Especially, the Taiwan Strait is a passage through which 45% of the cargo volume heading to our country, Europe, and the Atlantic passes."