China staged large unannounced military drills around Taiwan and across the western Pacific in early November, deploying more than 100 vessels in what Taiwan called "silent intimidation" .
The exercises began in early November . More than 100 Chinese military and coast guard vessels participated at the peak, while around 70 remained active on Friday . The drills were not announced in advance .
The maneuvers included simulated attacks on military targets and cities . They also rehearsed blockade scenarios and broader regional operations . A Chinese submarine reportedly launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Yellow Sea toward the mainland . The operations took place around the so-called first island chain .
The deployment exceeded the scale of China's "Justice Mission 2025" operation last year, according to Taiwanese sources . Naval forces from China's eastern, northern and southern commands took part . The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported enhanced naval activity last week .
Taiwanese officials described the operation as "silent intimidation" . An anonymous security official cited by Taiwan's RTI radio said the lack of announcement was deliberate and meant to exert pressure without provoking diplomatic protests before the APEC summit . "These are silent exercises and in effect silent intimidation," the official said . "It is meant to frighten, but at the same time prevent the alarm from being raised and police intervention."
Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo said China was conducting anti-access drills in the western Pacific . Joseph Wu, secretary general of Taiwan's National Security Council, said on Thursday that the aircraft carrier Liaoning and other formations still operated east of the Philippines .
The drills came ahead of next week's APEC summit in Shenzhen . US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet there . According to Taiwanese sources, the exercises were also intended to influence local elections on the island .
Beijing has described the carrier's activities as routine exercises not aimed at any country . On Thursday, Xi called for peaceful "reunification" with Taiwan without mentioning the use of force . China's defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment .
Beijing considers democratically governed Taiwan its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force . Taipei rejects these claims, saying only the island's citizens can decide its future .
