China's Liaoning Carrier Holds Drills to Deny US Access

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier group and other naval formations have conducted anti-access and area-denial exercises in the Western Pacific, Taiwan's defense minister said, amid growing concerns over Beijing's military activities around the island.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo confirmed the operations on November 10, describing them as part of China's efforts to restrict the movement and potential intervention of foreign military forces in the region.

Anti-access and area-denial operations, commonly known as A2/AD, are designed to prevent opposing forces from entering or operating freely within a contested area.

In a potential Taiwan conflict, such capabilities could complicate intervention by the United States and its regional allies.

The announcement follows reports of a significant increase in Chinese naval activity across the Western Pacific.

Taiwan's National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu previously reported that more than 100 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels had been operating near Taiwan, in the South China Sea and across the Pacific.

Taiwan's defense ministry also reported a sharp rise in Chinese military aircraft activity around the island.

Koo said Taiwan's armed forces were closely monitoring the exercises through joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, while sharing information with international partners.

China has not formally announced the activities as a new military exercise.

Beijing previously described the Liaoning carrier group's Western Pacific training as routine annual operations intended to test long-range, open-ocean combat capabilities rather than target a particular country.

The developments come ahead of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, where US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Taiwan rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and maintains that its future must be determined by its people.