Taiwan security official flags Chinese military deployment near first island chain

2026-05-23

More than 100 Chinese military vessels have been deployed near Okinawa and Taiwan around the first island chain, Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu, who oversees security policy in Taiwan, said on X, formerly Twitter, on the 23rd.

Stepping up pressure around the first island chain

According to Wu, the vessel deployment has continued over the past few days after the mid-May U.S.-China summit. Wu said, 'It is China that is threatening peace and stability in the region.'

The image shown in the post displayed the presence of vessels across a wide area including waters around Taiwan and Japan, suggesting pressure not only on the Taiwan Strait but on the entire first island chain. The Chinese military has been intensifying military intimidation, including deploying a fleet of around 100 vessels near the first island chain in December 2025.

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