China has vowed to take "necessary measures" to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning against "separatist activities" in Taiwan. The statement follows a sharp escalation in Chinese military activity around the self-ruled island, which Taipei has described as a provocation threatening regional stability.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported detecting 53 Chinese military aircraft, 11 navy vessels, and eight additional ships near the island in the past 24 hours. These moves, according to officials, mark some of the largest-scale operations in recent years. Taiwan has called on Beijing to cease its "provocative acts" immediately.

Taiwanese and regional security experts believe the surge in military maneuvers sends a political message to the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. A senior Taiwanese official stated the operations, unprecedented in scale, reflect Beijing’s intent to "draw a red line" and assert authority as the U.S. transitions leadership.

"It took nearly 70 days for China to plan and deploy these operations," said a senior Taiwan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity. They suggested the actions were more aligned with sending a signal to Washington than directly targeting Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s recent Pacific tour, which included U.S. stopovers in Hawaii and Guam.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, accused "separatist Taiwan forces" of colluding with external forces. "We will absolutely not let things go unchecked. We take necessary measures to resolutely defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Zhu said during a regular press briefing in Beijing.

China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province, expressed particular displeasure over President Lai’s international engagements, branding them a challenge to its sovereignty claims. However, Lai’s government has consistently rejected Beijing's stance, asserting that Taiwan's future can only be decided by its people.

Taiwan’s Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo criticized China's actions as a "blatant disruption" to regional stability. She reiterated that Taiwan’s international engagements are routine and not an excuse for aggressive military maneuvers. Meanwhile, Taiwan's military remains on high alert as Chinese naval operations in regional waters reach their most extensive scale in nearly three decades.

Observers note that Beijing has not officially announced the drills, possibly to avoid overshadowing ongoing outreach programs with Taiwanese politicians and business leaders. A senior security official described the approach as "carrot and stick," pointing to upcoming visits by Chinese officials to Taipei.

While U.S. military officials have acknowledged elevated Chinese naval deployments in the East and South China Seas, they said the scale aligns with previous large-scale exercises. However, Taiwanese analysts consider the timing "extremely rare," given typically rough sea conditions this time of year.

As tensions simmer, Taiwan continues to urge Beijing to prioritize dialogue and respect regional stability. International observers remain watchful as the situation unfolds, raising concerns about the potential for broader conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.