After China conducted large-scale military exercises last week, the Liaoning aircraft carrier fleet crossed the Taiwan Strait, which attracted widespread attention and discussion from the international community. On October 23, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said that China's action not only has important geopolitical implications, but also poses a potential threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region. Taiwan's Defense Minister Gu Lixiong warned that if China implements a blockade against Taiwan, it will be regarded as an act of war, which may disrupt the global economy and affect the flow of international trade.

Liaoning aircraft carrier crosses the Taiwan Strait, causing tension in the Taiwan Strait

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said that the Liaoning aircraft carrier fleet passed near the Pratas Islands controlled by Taiwan on the evening of October 22 and continued to cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait to the north. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense issued a statement on social media, stating that the military is closely monitoring the PLA's movements and will take corresponding measures based on the development of the situation. The monitoring actions of the Taiwan military show that Taiwan attaches great importance to this move.

At the same time, China has not made a public response to this move. The Liaoning participated in the "Joint Sword-2024B" military exercise last week, which simulated attacks and blockades in the southeastern waters of Taiwan, and took off and landed J-15 fighter jets to fly over the eastern airspace of Taiwan, posing a direct threat to Taiwan's airspace. According to Taiwan's analysis, the Liaoning fleet's crossing of the Taiwan Strait is related to its exercise.

Taiwan Defense Minister: Blockade will constitute an act of war

In response to China's possible blockade measures, Taiwan's Defense Minister Gu Lixiong said in the Legislative Yuan that although the PLA's "Joint Sword-2024B" exercise claimed to be "encircling Taiwan and blocking it", it did not actually demarcate a no-fly or no-sail zone technically. He emphasized that if China implements a comprehensive blockade on Taiwan, the blockade will be regarded as an "act of aggression" in accordance with UN Resolution 3314. Gu Lixiong added that a real blockade needs to be officially notified to the international community and the no-fly and no-sail ranges will be announced to various countries.

Gu Lixiong pointed out that if China implements a comprehensive blockade, it will not only affect Taiwan, but also impact the global supply chain and trade circulation. In particular, the Taiwan Strait, as an important trade channel in the world, is vital to the global economy. He called on the international community to pay attention and take action, indicating that no country should tolerate the blockade of the Taiwan Strait, which may disrupt the world economic order. Gu Lixiong also revealed that if the blockade becomes a reality, the Taiwan military will quickly launch an emergency combat plan, including the full deployment of personnel, troops and weapons to deal with any military blockade actions that China may take.

The escalation of military dynamics in the Taiwan Strait affects global economic security

Gu Lixiong cited data from Washington think tanks in the Legislative Yuan, pointing out that the Taiwan Strait is an important channel for global freight, with about US$2.45 trillion in freight passing through it each year, accounting for one-fifth of the world's trade circulation. If the Taiwan Strait is blocked, the interruption of this key channel will seriously affect the global supply chain and have a wide range of economic shocks to the international community. Therefore, the situation in the Taiwan Strait is not just a regional issue, but a key factor in global economic stability.

China's military exercises continue, US and Canadian warships cross the Taiwan Strait to express their stance

The Chinese People's Liberation Army just conducted a live-fire exercise in the coastal area of Pingtan, Fujian on October 22. The exercise area covers 150 square kilometers, only 105 kilometers away from Taiwan. The Taiwan Ministry of Defense said that the PLA's military activities in the waters of the Taiwan Strait show its "deterrent intention" and intend to psychologically deter Taiwan through continued military pressure. The exercise is regarded as part of the PLA's annual routine military exercises, but its timing and scale do not rule out a declarative gesture to the international community.

Before China announced the exercise, US and Canadian warships jointly crossed the Taiwan Strait on October 20 to demonstrate the internationality and openness of the waterway. The actions of the United States and Canada convey the concerns of Western countries about the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing condemned the passage of the US and Canadian warships, saying that this move "undermines the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait" and criticized the United States and Canada for interfering in China's internal affairs. In response, the United States responded that the Taiwan Strait, as an international waterway, must remain open to ensure the freedom of international shipping.

Gu Lixiong calls on the international community to pay attention to the situation in the Taiwan Strait

Taiwan Defense Minister Gu Lixiong pointed out that if China imposes a blockade on Taiwan, it will not only be a challenge to Taiwan, but will also directly threaten the global economy and shipping security. He stressed that the situation in the Taiwan Strait should be regarded as a matter of common concern to the world, and hoped that the international community would pay close attention and take action to avoid further military pressure from China on Taiwan. Gu Lixiong said that the Taiwan military has formulated a plan to deal with the blockade to ensure that it can respond quickly in any emergency.

Future Outlook for the Situation in the Taiwan Strait

The situation in the Taiwan Strait is becoming increasingly tense, and the Liaoning aircraft carrier formation crossing the Taiwan Strait has attracted the attention of all parties to the future of peace in the Taiwan Strait. Experts believe that if the situation in the Taiwan Strait escalates further, it may trigger more international intervention, including military and economic support from the United States and its allies. The international community should be highly vigilant about this matter and adopt multilateral cooperation to prevent the far-reaching impact of regional conflicts on the global economy and security.