NewKerala.com

China's Taiwan Drives Disrupt 941 Flights, Simulate "Quasi-Blockade" Tactics

China's recent large-scale military drills around Taiwan severely disrupted regional air traffic, affecting 941 flights and over 100,000 passengers. Analysts describe the exercises as a "quasi-blockade" designed to simulate wartime conditions and test control of critical lanes for a potential amphibious assault. The maneuvers integrated naval, air, and electronic warfare capabilities in a strategy of "joint domain control," while deliberately leaving a few air corridors open, possibly to simulate future humanitarian passages. Experts condemn the actions for violating international aviation safety norms and highlighting a pattern of coercive behavior aimed at reshaping the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

Key Points: China's Military Drigs Disrupt Taiwan Flights, Expose Strategy

  • 941 flights disrupted
  • Simulated wartime blockade
  • Testing joint domain control
  • Undermined aviation safety norms
2 min read

China's military drills disrupt air traffic, expose coercive strategy toward Taiwan

China's military exercises forced 941 flight cancellations, simulating a "quasi-blockade" of Taiwan and testing control of critical air and sea lanes.

"quasi-blockade intended to simulate wartime conditions - Su Tzu-yun, INDSR"

Taipei, January 2

China's recent large-scale military exercises around Taiwan have triggered widespread disruption to regional air travel, prompting renewed concern over China's growing use of coercive tactics to pressure the island. The drills, conducted on December 30, disrupted 941 flights and affected more than 100,000 passengers, underscoring the broader security implications of China's actions, as reported by Focus Taiwan.

According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration confirmed that the exercises affected 857 international flights and 84 domestic routes, as live-fire activities forced aircraft to reroute or cancel operations.

The disruption lasted nearly 10 hours, significantly impacting commercial aviation across the region. Experts argue that the scale and timing of the drills indicate deliberate planning rather than routine military training. Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), described the operation as a "quasi-blockade" intended to simulate wartime conditions.

Su explained that the manoeuvres were designed to test China's ability to control air and sea lanes critical for a potential amphibious assault on Taiwan. He noted that the exercise aimed not only at military preparedness but also at exerting psychological pressure by disrupting civilian travel.

According to Su, the drills also reflected China's attempt to experiment with "joint domain control", a strategy integrating naval, air and electronic warfare capabilities. While most air routes around Taiwan were restricted, three corridors, M750, G587 and R583, were deliberately left open.

This, he argued, may have been an attempt to simulate "humanitarian corridors" that could be used during a future blockade to manage foreign evacuations and shape international perceptions, as highlighted by Focus Taiwan.

Another INDSR researcher, Lin Po-chou, described the exercises as the most severe disruption to regional aviation in recent memory. He stated that China's actions demonstrated a disregard for international norms and highlighted a growing pattern of coercive behaviour aimed at reshaping the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

Although China issued limited aviation notices, analysts stressed that international civil aviation rules require far earlier notification for activities affecting airspace safety. By failing to meet those standards, they argued, China undermined aviation safety and violated established international practices, as reported by Focus Taiwan.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The term "quasi-blockade" is very telling. Leaving three corridors open to simulate 'humanitarian corridors' feels like a calculated PR move, not genuine concern. It's a strategy to control the narrative during aggression. As Indians, we understand the importance of sovereignty. The world cannot allow such bullying tactics to become normalized. ✈️
R
Rohit P
While I understand the security concerns, disrupting international aviation is a step too far. There are families, business travelers, and essential cargo on those flights. The lack of proper notification is a serious safety violation. A respectful criticism to all sides: dialogue is the only sustainable path forward. Escalation helps no one.
S
Sarah B
Reading this from an Indian perspective, it's a stark reminder of how interconnected global security is. The "joint domain control" strategy they're testing is alarming. It's not just about Taiwan; it's about projecting power and testing limits. The international community needs a coordinated response to such grey-zone tactics.
K
Karthik V
This is classic salami-slicing strategy. Small, incremental actions that reshape the status quo. First, it's airspace, then what? The economic cost of 941 flights is huge. It hurts businesses and ordinary people. The world's democracies need to stand firm on principles of freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution.
M
Michael C
The psychological pressure angle is very real. Imagine the uncertainty for passengers and airlines. It creates a chilling effect. Stability in the Taiwan Strait is crucial for the entire Indo-Pacific, including India's economic and security interests. Hope cooler heads prevail

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50