Taiwan-China Cross-Strait Tensions

China’s Liaoning Carrier Crosses First Island Chain as Military Drills Hit 5 Zones

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China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has crossed Japan’s Miyako Strait into the Western Pacific, as Beijing simultaneously runs five overlapping military drills in zones stretching from Bohai and the Yellow Sea to the East and South China Seas. In addition, Chinese intelligence aircraft and drones were seen operating near Japan’s southwestern islands, while Taiwan reported another joint combat patrol. Four of the five drills involved live fire, adding to questions over whether these activities are merely routine exercises or part of a more coordinated effort to normalize military pressure across the region. In this episode, we examine the Liaoning’s latest transit through the Miyako Strait, China’s five drill zones and what this growing pattern of activity means for the First Island Chain and the wider balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. *Recorded on October 15, 2026 at 4pm Taiwan Standard Time Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat Planner: Miguel Yang Videographer: Celest Kao Our guests: Tsai Jung-hsiang - National Chung Cheng University Political Science Professor Stephen Nagy - International Christian University Politics and International Studies Professor