Recent Chinese naval deployments in the western Pacific and South China Sea have raised questions among analysts over whether Beijing is rehearsing operations to stop US and allied forces from intervening in a Taiwan conflict.

A November 6 assessment by US-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the People's Liberation Army could be conducting a major exercise simulating the isolation of Taiwan, with warships positioned to deter or prevent outside intervention. Beijing has not announced any large-scale exercise tied to the recent naval activity, and ISW noted there was no confirmation that the movements were part of a unified operation. According to Taiwan's National Security Council secretary general Joseph Wu, in a November 3 report, more than 100 Chinese navy and coast guard vessels were operating across the region.