China Deploys Dual Carrier Groups Near Taiwan in Show of Force
China has dramatically intensified its military posture around Taiwan by deploying two aircraft carrier groups and nearly 70 warships during May 2025. This marks one of the largest demonstrations of Chinese naval power in the region and has drawn sharp responses from Taiwan, Japan, and the United States.
Massive Naval Deployment
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) mobilized the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers, each accompanied by a full fleet of destroyers, frigates, and auxiliary vessels. These ships operated across the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, with several vessels transiting the Miyako Strait into the Western Pacific.
Chinese naval drills included live-fire exercises, amphibious assault training, and simulated attacks on hostile ships and aircraft. These maneuvers were not limited to high seas; they extended to the coast of Fujian province, directly across the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s defense ministry described the activities as increasingly provocative, noting a clear uptick in scale and frequency compared to previous years.
Escalation in Air Activity
Alongside maritime deployments, China intensified aerial pressure around Taiwan. Over 75 Chinese military aircraft were recorded conducting combat readiness patrols during May. On May 27 alone, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence detected 61 sorties in a matter of hours, some breaching the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
The coordination between China’s air and naval forces signals an evolving strategy of integrated pressure on Taiwan, aimed at exhausting its defense readiness and asserting Beijing’s territorial claims.
International Concern and Strategic Implications
Japan confirmed that it had tracked the Liaoning carrier group through its maritime zone and has pledged to maintain heightened surveillance. The United States has condemned the deployments as destabilizing and reaffirmed its security commitment to Taiwan.
Statements from U.S. defense officials suggest growing alarm that China is not just posturing but rehearsing for a potential conflict scenario. The scale and precision of these maneuvers reflect China’s growing readiness to assert control over contested zones, particularly Taiwan.
This latest round of Chinese military assertiveness underscores the volatility of the Indo-Pacific region and the increasing likelihood of confrontation if diplomatic channels fail to de-escalate tensions.
