China’s largest naval deployment in years is reshaping the strategic picture across East Asia, with more than 100 warships and coast guard vessels operating from the Yellow Sea to the western Pacific in early December. The surge, which began quietly in mid-November 2025 and peaked between December 2 and 4, has alarmed governments from Tokyo to Taipei and drawn intense scrutiny from security analysts who see it as a deliberate show of force rather than routine activity.
Numbers and Patterns
During its early-December peak, the operation involved over 100 ships spread across the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and western Pacific, before easing to more than 90 vessels by December 5. Even at this reduced level, experts say the deployment is unusually large for peacetime and signals a sustained, not episodic, military posture.
This buildup follows a series of large-scale maneuvers around Taiwan and nearby waters. In December 2024, China deployed nearly 90 vessels, prompting Taipei to raise its alert levels. Previous exercises, including those dubbed “Joint Sword” and “Strait Thunder-2025,” rehearsed blockade and encirclement operations focused on Taiwan, reinforcing the impression of an evolving playbook aimed at controlling access to the island and surrounding sea lanes.
Rising Tensions and Strategic Aims
The latest surge unfolds against a backdrop of long-running disputes over Taiwan’s status, contested islands in the East China Sea, and overlapping claims in the South China Sea. China’s navy, now the world’s largest by ship numbers, increasingly confronts the maritime forces of Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan in crowded and sensitive waters, heightening the risk of miscalculation.
Intelligence assessments and regional officials describe the current operation as China’s most extensive maritime display to date, surpassing the scale of its 2024 moves. Four naval formations have been reported operating in the western Pacific, demonstrating an ability to assemble, coordinate, and sustain a large force across multiple theaters. Chinese vessels are not limited to the vicinity of Taiwan; they are also positioned in the southern Yellow Sea, around the East China Sea’s disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, across key sections of the South China Sea, and along the first island chain east of Taiwan. This dispersal allows Beijing to apply simultaneous pressure on Japan, secure major shipping corridors, and reinforce its presence in waters critical to regional trade and defense planning.
Taiwan, Japan, and the Military Playbook
Taiwanese officials say Chinese warships and aircraft remain highly active around the island, though the latest surge has not yet translated into a marked jump in direct incursions into its immediate territorial waters. National Security Bureau head Tsai Ming-yen has described the period as China’s “most active season” for drills and warned lawmakers that more exercises are likely before year’s end, keeping Taiwan in a state of heightened vigilance.
Sources report that Chinese forces have been practicing mock attacks on foreign vessels and conducting “access-denial” operations aimed at blocking external military assistance to Taiwan in a crisis. These scenarios test command-and-control over long distances and present new challenges for U.S., Japanese, and allied planners.
Japan is also drawn deeper into the standoff. Beijing’s ship numbers reportedly began rising after November 14, when China summoned Japan’s ambassador to protest remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting that an assault on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response. Tokyo argues that any conflict over Taiwan would threaten its territory and vital sea lanes, a stance that has provoked sharp criticism from Beijing.
Economic Stakes and Regional Responses
Beyond military calculations, the deployment underscores the economic risks of a crisis in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is central to global semiconductor manufacturing, supplying chips essential for countless products worldwide. A blockade or prolonged confrontation could choke these supply chains and disrupt global trade.
These concerns are influencing policy across the region. The Philippines has labeled Chinese moves in the South China Sea “dangerous” and is seeking closer defense cooperation with partners. Other governments are reviewing their force posture and deepening security ties.
Taiwan is responding with major new spending commitments. President Lai Ching-te has announced plans to allocate around $40 billion over five years to strengthen defenses, including capabilities designed to resist blockades and cyber operations.
Looking Ahead
As Beijing continues to expand and deploy its fleet, the balance of power in East Asia is becoming more fragile. The high concentration of military forces and overlapping claims raise the odds of an incident spiraling, while the region’s deep economic interdependence provides powerful incentives to avoid open conflict. Diplomatic efforts are underway to manage these risks, but the recent show of force serves as a stark reminder that regional security will increasingly be tested at sea.
Sources
Reuters – Exclusive: China massing military ships across region in show of maritime force, sources say
Taipei Times – China deploys navy vessels across Asia
Japan Forward – China Deploys Over 100 Vessels in Largest Show of Force in East Asia to Date
Kyodo News – China has sent over 100 vessels to East Asian waters since mid-November
Institute for the Study of War – China & Taiwan Update, December 5, 2025
The Diplomat – PLA Maneuvers Near Taiwan in December: Misperceptions and Strategic Realities