On Monday, China initiated extensive military drills in the vicinity of Taiwan and its nearby islands, which it labeled as a “severe warning” against the “separatist actions” of those advocating for Taiwan’s independence.

This military activity follows remarks made by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te (commonly referred to as William Lai) last week, where he reaffirmed the island’s leadership’s longstanding commitment to resisting any attempts at “annexation” by Beijing and rejecting the view that Taiwan is a part of the People’s Republic of China under Communist Party governance.

For decades, China has regarded Taiwan as a dissident province and has pledged to reunite it politically with Beijing.

China frequently conducts military exercises with the intention of applying pressure on Taiwan, which maintains its own government and military. These drills differ in their magnitude and severity. Following Lai’s inauguration earlier this year, Beijing carried out what it described as “punishment drills.” The latest exercises, dubbed “Joint Sword-2024B,” involve warships and fighter jets, according to an announcement from the Chinese National Defense Ministry.

Various U.S. administrations have promised to defend Taiwan should China attempt an invasion. U.S. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller called on China to “exercise restraint and to refrain from actions that could jeopardize peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region.”

Taiwan is projected to become a significant focus for presidential discussions over the next four years, as noted by analysts at the Brookings Institution.

Experts at Brookings mentioned that former President Donald Trump has consistently expressed doubt regarding the advantages of backing Taiwan, whereas Vice President Kamala Harris is likely to maintain a policy similar to that of the Biden administration.

The think tank characterized the Biden administration’s stance on Taiwan as one focused on “enhancing economic ties, bolstering security collaboration, and raising Taiwan’s international profile.”