Taipei: Taiwan's military heightened its alert level and established an emergency response center on Monday after China created seven temporary reserved airspace zones and deployed naval fleets and coast guard vessels near the island. This move follows Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's recent visit to the Pacific, which included stops in Hawaii and Guam, prompting expectations of Chinese military exercises.

According to Taiwan's defense ministry, China has designated seven airspace zones east of its Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, valid from Monday to Wednesday. These "temporary reserved areas" are allocated for specific uses, although other flights can still pass through with approval, as per international regulations.

Reports indicate that China has positioned nearly 90 naval and coast guard vessels in the region, including around 60 navy ships, in waters near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands, and the East and South China Seas. In response, Taiwan’s military has initiated combat readiness exercises at key locations, with naval and coast guard vessels closely monitoring Chinese activities.

Taiwan's defense ministry warned that any provocative actions by China could disrupt peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and would not be tolerated by the international community. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s coast guard noted that Chinese coast guard ships have been engaged in "grey-zone harassment" in Taiwan's waters. Taiwan maintains that China has no right to enforce laws or conduct operations in its waters and asserts its right to take appropriate action.

China's recent actions are part of its broader strategy of "grey-zone" tactics, which include frequent military maneuvers and coast guard patrols, designed to pressure and test Taiwan's defenses without crossing into outright conflict. Beijing views Lai as a separatist and rejects any dialogue with his administration, while Taiwan insists that only its people can determine their future.