China sends aircraft carrier, 59 warships to key Taiwan area

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China sends aircraft carrier, 59 warships to key Taiwan area

Satellite images from January 31 show that the People’s Liberation Army Navy has deployed one aircraft carrier, one coast guard vessel, and 58 maritime militia ships in the area around Pag-asa Island. This deployment is particularly noteworthy given the island’s strategic significance.

Ukrainian-origin carrier leads China’s bold move into Japan’s waters — Photo credit: CCTV

Pag-asa Island [also known as Thitu Island] is not only one of the key islands in the disputed Spratly Archipelago but also a strategic asset for any country trying to assert dominance over the South China Sea. The South China Sea is one of the busiest maritime trade routes in the world, with approximately 30% of global trade passing through it.

As the region remains a hotspot for geopolitical tension, Pag-asa plays an important role as a military and logistical hub that can provide critical operational advantages.

The island is located about 480 kilometers from Taiwan, 450 kilometers from Vietnam, and approximately 500 kilometers from mainland China, placing it in the heart of a region where every move is closely monitored by regional and global powers.

Unlike China, which relies on artificial islands, Pag-asa is a naturally occurring landmass with a strategically significant 1.3 km runway. This not only provides opportunities for military aviation but also offers an advantage for air and maritime dominance in the region.

While China is building military bases on artificial islands like Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, Pag-asa, under Philippine control, remains in a critical position to counter China’s hegemony in the South China Sea.

Strategically, the island provides an important military corridor for monitoring and protecting trade routes, as well as safeguarding resources like oil and natural gas found in the disputed waters around the Spratlys.

China claims nearly the entire Spratly Archipelago, putting the country in direct confrontation with international laws and the territorial claims of its neighbors. Pag-asa Island has thus become not only a physical but also a symbolic fortress for the Philippines, strengthening their position against China’s ambitions.

For Taiwan, which controls Taiping Island, the strategic balance in the region remains sensitive, as Pag-asa offers a more convenient platform for monitoring China’s military progress.

As part of the broader South China Sea struggle, Pag-asa is more than just an isolated island. It is a key military and logistical point that provides a strategic advantage to any nation capable of controlling it.

Amid growing Chinese influence and strong territorial claims, this island remains one of the primary battlegrounds for future geopolitical clashes in the region.

The presence of a carrier, coast guard, and militia may be a tactic for controlling and monitoring these critical sea routes, ensuring dominance over the sea, and enabling rapid response if necessary.

China could use these vessels to create a denial zone around Pag-asa Island, complicating operations by other nations, particularly the U.S., in the event of a conflict. The presence of a carrier, coast guard, and militia allows China to carry out missions to deter potential threats or intruders into its territorial claims.

The aircraft carrier offers the ability to project military power and demonstrate strength, while the coast guard and militia can conduct regular patrols, ensuring constant presence and control over the area. This could also be a method of exercising control over fishing resources and potential natural resource deposits in the region.

Additionally, from a Philippine perspective, the presence of Chinese military forces near Pag-asa Island could be a strategy to apply political and military pressure on the Philippines to back down from its claims or at least limit its military and civil activities in the region. This may also include interference in infrastructure projects, as mentioned in the context of the island’s improvements.

At this point, there is no specific information on the exact purpose behind the large naval presence near Pag-asa Island. From naval exercises to showing force and even a potential invasion, the possibilities remain vast.

In recent years, the People’s Liberation Army Navy [PLAN] has conducted several exercises that involved a significant buildup of forces in specific regions, reminiscent of the situation near Pag-asa Island on January 31, 2024. One notable instance occurred in the summer of 2022 when the PLAN engaged in large-scale maneuvers in the East China Sea.

During these exercises, which took place around mid-July 2022, Chinese naval forces, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, and support ships, were concentrated near the Senkaku Islands, which are disputed territories claimed by both China and Japan. This show of force was interpreted as a demonstration of China’s capability to project power and assert its territorial claims in the region.

Another significant event unfolded in the South China Sea in late 2023, specifically around November 15, when the PLAN conducted a joint military exercise involving a massive fleet near the Spratly Islands. The operation included a mix of naval vessels, aircraft, and maritime militia ships, showcasing a coordinated effort to simulate control over the contested waters.

The exercise was particularly noteworthy because it coincided with increased diplomatic tensions between China and several Southeast Asian nations over maritime boundaries and resource claims. This display of naval strength was seen as a strategic move to reinforce China’s nine-dash line claims in the South China Sea.

Moving into early 2024, before the incident near Pag-asa Island, there was another notable congregation of Chinese naval assets near the Paracel Islands on February 8. This operation involved not just the PLAN but also a substantial number of China Coast Guard vessels and maritime militia boats, creating a formidable presence aimed at deterring any rival claimants from conducting activities in the area.

The exercise was part of China’s ongoing strategy to normalize its military presence in these disputed waters, effectively challenging the status quo and pushing back against international maritime law rulings that had previously gone against China’s expansive claims.

These instances of military buildup by the PLAN are not isolated events but part of a broader pattern of assertiveness in maritime regions where China has territorial disputes.

Each exercise serves multiple purposes: it tests the capabilities and readiness of the Chinese naval forces, sends a message to regional rivals about China’s resolve to defend its claims, and potentially intimidates other nations into reconsidering their activities in these areas.

The international community watches these moves closely, as they have implications for regional stability, freedom of navigation, and the broader geopolitical balance in the Asia-Pacific region.

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