Toward the end of 2025, the Chinese military again conducted a training exercise that encircled Taiwan and included escalation in what was carried out.

That heightened regional tension and cannot be accepted.

It marked the first military exercise around Taiwan since April 2025 and the fourth in which the island was surrounded.

The training area also approached much closer to the main Taiwan island than in past exercises.

It appears that China wants to regularly conduct such training twice a year.

According to Taiwan’s national defense ministry, about 200 Chinese military aircraft were confirmed taking part in the exercise. China fired a total of 27 long-range rockets to the north and southwest of Taiwan and also deployed ships and drones.

A Chinese military spokesman........

© The Asahi Shimbun