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Athens · Wednesday, 4 November 2026

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The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning photographed by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces

Asia-Pacific

Taiwan: more than 100 Chinese warships and coast guard vessels in the Western Pacific; “we will not bow to any pressure”

Taiwan warned that China has deployed more than 100 navy and coast guard vessels in the Western Pacific, with two carrier groups active at once. National Security Council chief Joseph Wu said Taiwan “will not provoke, but will not bow to pressure”.

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The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (16), photographed by the Japan Self-Defense Forces in October 2026. Photo: Joint Staff Office, Japan Ministry of Defense.

China has deployed more than 100 navy and coast guard vessels in the Western Pacific, Taiwan warned. National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu said the figure reflects the situation on Tuesday, November 3, and that the deployment is accompanied by increased activity of Chinese military aircraft around the island.

In a post on X, Wu called China a “big bully” and said Taiwan will remain vigilant. “We will not provoke, but we will not bow to any pressure,” he wrote. In a second post he accused the People’s Liberation Army of continuing to intimidate Taiwan and countries in the region with military coercion and gray-zone tactics. He added that Taiwan will keep strengthening its defence capabilities and is determined to defend itself. A map accompanying the post showed Chinese navy and coast guard deployments in the Western Pacific.

Two Chinese carriers active at once

The Taiwan Security Monitor noted that two Chinese aircraft carriers are active at the same time: the Liaoning carrier strike group in the Philippine Sea and the Fujian in the South China Sea. The deployments coincided with more flights by the Chinese military around Taiwan. For earlier Liaoning movements, see our report on the pattern of its missions and our map-based report on more than 50 Chinese ships.

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Taiwan’s Defence Ministry figures

In the 24 hours to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense recorded 49 sorties by Chinese military aircraft, six People’s Liberation Army Navy ships and six official Chinese vessels. Of the aircraft sorties, 31 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s central, south-western and eastern air defence identification zones (ADIZ).

On Wednesday, November 4, the ministry reported 22 sorties by Chinese aircraft, seven navy ships and five official vessels around Taiwan in the 24 hours to 6 a.m. Fourteen of the sorties entered the south-western and eastern ADIZ, prompting Taiwan’s armed forces to deploy combat air patrol aircraft, Navy ships and coastal missile systems.

China Liaoning PLA Taiwan Taiwan Strait

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