China’s Routinized Military Drills Raise Concerns Over Response Delays, Warns Former U.S. Official
Taipei, Taiwan – China’s increasingly frequent and “routinized” military drills could desensitize Taiwan and its international partners to the activities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), potentially delaying timely responses to an actual military crisis, a former U.S. State Department official warned Monday.
The statement comes amid growing concerns over China’s military activities near Taiwan, which have intensified in recent months, including military drills tied to U.S. official visits. Heino Klinck, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, expressed these concerns during a discussion with Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA).
The Risk of Desensitization: A Growing Concern for Taiwan
Klinck highlighted that the more frequently China conducts its military exercises, the less attention they may attract, leading to potential complacency and delayed responses in case of a real crisis. “The more routinized these drills become, the less attention they may draw, which could impact how indications and warnings of actual imminent military action are interpreted, thus reducing response times,” Klinck said.
He pointed out that these regular exercises offer China’s military the opportunity to rehearse operations that could later be used in an actual confrontation with Taiwan. As the drills become more familiar, they may no longer trigger the urgency required by Taiwan and its allies to prepare for a military escalation.
PLA Drills and Diplomatic Implications: Counterproductive Moves for China?
China has increasingly justified its military drills as a response to various actions from Taiwan, such as President Lai Ching-te’s U.S. stopovers. Klinck warned, however, that using such diplomatic events as a pretext for military actions could backfire diplomatically. He called China’s justifications for military maneuvers “hollow,” adding that any aggressive military response would be viewed by the international community as coercive.
Mark Montgomery, a retired U.S. rear admiral, echoed Klinck’s concerns about the growing sophistication of China’s drills. He emphasized that the larger and more complex exercises of 2024 not only serve to prepare the PLA for potential operations against Taiwan but also act as an “operational education” for China’s military.
“The greatest concern is the quality and depth of the PLA exercises this year. They are larger, more complex, and more pointed in their direct threat to Taiwan’s security,” Montgomery explained.
Escalating PLA Military Presence Near Taiwan
Reports from Reuters and Taiwan’s own security officials reveal an increasingly large Chinese military presence near Taiwan. According to sources, nearly 90 PLA navy and coast guard ships have been deployed in the waters surrounding Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands, and the East and South China Seas. The scale of this deployment exceeds the size of the previous Joint Sword drills, underscoring the increasing assertiveness of China’s military posture.
In response to the PLA’s growing presence, Taiwan’s military has ramped up its own defense measures. Taiwan launched war-preparedness drills on Monday, deploying troops and conducting operations across key military locations. Furthermore, the Coast Guard Administration is working alongside Taiwan’s military to devise countermeasures to the growing Chinese threat.
China’s Reserved Airspace and Its Military Intentions
As part of its military maneuvers, China has also designated seven areas off its eastern coast, including regions near Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, as “temporary reserved airspace” until Wednesday. These zones are typically associated with specific military activities and serve as a signal of China’s readiness to conduct air and sea operations in the region.
In this context, a U.S. State Department spokesperson urged that Lai Ching-te’s routine U.S. transit should not be used as a justification for military pressure. The spokesperson reiterated that the U.S. is monitoring PLA activities around Taiwan closely, and urged Beijing to act with restraint.
Key Areas of Concern: PLA Military Drills in Taiwan’s Vicinity
| Region | Number of Ships | Type of Military Activity | PLA Presence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near Taiwan | Nearly 90 ships | Military drills, naval patrols | Escalating presence |
| Zhejiang and Fujian Areas | N/A | Reserved airspace for military use | Indication of military activity |
| East and South China Seas | N/A | Naval exercises, coast guard patrols | Heightened threat |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How do China’s “routinized” military drills affect Taiwan’s security?
A1: Regular drills may desensitize Taiwan and its allies, potentially delaying response times to an actual military crisis by reducing the perceived urgency of PLA activities.
Q2: What are the implications of China’s growing military exercises?
A2: The larger and more complex drills are seen as a direct threat to Taiwan’s security, with the PLA rehearsing actions that could later be used in a military operation against the island.
Q3: Why is the international community concerned about China’s military activity?
A3: China’s military actions are increasingly viewed as coercive and destabilizing, especially when justified as responses to diplomatic events like official visits to the U.S. by Taiwanese leaders.
Q4: How is Taiwan responding to China’s military presence?
A4: Taiwan has launched war-preparedness drills and is collaborating with its Coast Guard Administration on countermeasures in response to the growing Chinese military presence near the island.
Q5: What is the significance of China’s reserved airspace?
A5: Reserved airspace is typically designated for military activities, signaling that China may be preparing for air and sea operations in the region as part of its ongoing military maneuvers.
Conclusion: Growing Military Tensions and Strategic Implications
As China’s military drills continue to escalate in both frequency and scale, the international community remains deeply concerned about the potential risks to regional stability. With increasing PLA activity near Taiwan and new tactics being employed by Beijing, the threat to Taiwan’s security remains high, and both sides are preparing for a long period of military vigilance.
For updates on the PLA’s military activities and Taiwan’s national defense efforts, visit Cialisweb.tw.
