A video released by the Taiwanese military shows a Chinese amphibious assault ship operating near the coast of Taiwan.
The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
The Chinese Communist Party claims Taiwan, which is a security partner of the United States, as part of its territory despite never having ruled the self-governing island. The Chinese military has continued to ramp up pressure on Taiwan with near-daily deployments of aircraft and ships around it.
China has been preparing for a potential amphibious invasion of Taiwan as well. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region, has warned that China carried out the largest invasion rehearsal around Taiwan of his career last summer.
What To Know
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry on Monday published a video on X (formerly Twitter), which showed operations being carried out by the island’s naval and coast guard vessels. It accused the Chinese military of launching “joint combat readiness patrols” to coerce Taiwan.
The #ROCArmedForces continue our efforts in force buildup and readiness, enhancing defense capabilities and closely monitoring surrounding waters and airspace.
We are dedicated to regional peace and security, safeguarding the democracy and freedom we have tirelessly strived for. pic.twitter.com/mVyW4pv7SL— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) February 17, 2025
“Their [China’s] aggressive mindset is the greatest threat to the security of the region,” the video caption reads.
The undated video contains footage of Taiwanese vessels monitoring Chinese naval ships, including one that has a hull number “33.”
Chinese warship number “33” is the Type 075 amphibious assault ship, CNS Anhui, which can carry helicopters, tanks, armored vehicles, and amphibious landing craft. China launched the Type 075’s successor, the catapult-equipped Type 076, last December.
The Anhui and six other Chinese naval ships, including one armed with a suspected laser weapon, were tracked last week transiting from the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea via the Miyako Strait, located between Japan’s southwestern islands and eastern Taiwan.
Taiwanese Defense Ministry
The video came after a Canadian warship on Sunday transited the 110-mile-wide Taiwan Strait. China claims sovereignty over the entire strait even though in accordance with international law its sovereignty ends after the 12-nautical-mile-wide territorial sea.
“The Taiwan Strait is by no means under [China’s] sovereignty,” the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said at the beginning of the video, vowing that the island’s armed forces uphold freedom of navigation and safeguard peace in the strategically important waterway.
What People Are Saying
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “The [Republic of China Armed Forces] continue our efforts in force buildup and readiness, enhancing defense capabilities and closely monitoring surrounding waters and airspace.”
The Pentagon said in its Chinese military power report: “[Type 075s] are highly capable, large-deck amphibious ships that will provide the [People’s Liberation Army Navy] with an all-aspect expeditionary capability, including the ability to carry a large number of landing craft, troops, armored vehicles, and helicopters.”
What Happens Next
The Chinese military continues its daily operations around Taiwan amid an expansion of its fleet of warships. It remains to be seen how Taiwan will prepare itself against China’s military threat when it is facing a backlog of approximately $20 billion in U.S. arms sales.
