China’s military has announced plans to conduct “joint combat readiness” patrols in the vicinity of Taiwan, a move that serves as a cautionary message directed at the island democracy.

This announcement follows closely after a prominent contender in Taiwan’s presidential election, Vice President Lai Ching-te, concluded a foreign trip that Beijing had openly criticized.

Lai Ching-te, a key candidate, undertook a journey to Paraguay, one of the few nations upholding diplomatic ties with Taipei rather than Beijing, DNYUZ has reported.

His travel included stopovers in the United States en route. China’s authorities are actively working to limit Taiwan’s international engagements, as they regard the island as part of their own territory.

They particularly object to visits made by Taiwanese leaders to the United States, which stands as Taiwan’s principal political and military ally.

Throughout Lai’s six-day sojourn, Chinese media and officials expressed disapproval of his actions.

Lai represents Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which advocates for the assertion of Taiwan’s unique identity and sovereignty—an approach that Beijing sees as a challenge to its territorial claims over the island.

Written by staff