China's 'Conquest Without War' Plan for Taiwan

China's strategy toward Taiwan is increasingly characterized by a "conquest without war" approach, employing a significant "threat facade" rather than an overt invasion. This strategy is evident in the escalating military activities around the island. In 2025, Taiwan registered over 3,700 Chinese air movements within its air defense zone, averaging more than ten per day. This marks a substantial increase, with a quarter more activity than the previous record year of 2024.

Beyond air incursions, China is bolstering its regional power in the South China Sea through military bases and asserting control over vital shipping lanes. The "threat facade" extends to large-scale military exercises, including the testing of specialized landing bridges in coastal areas and the construction of replicas of Taipei in desert training grounds in Inner Mongolia. These simulations, built between 2020 and 2025, suggest a detailed preparation for potential operations.

While the military posturing is intense, with frequent patrols and exercises, the visible "saber-rattling" does not involve fighter jets or warships directly overflying Taipei. This suggests a calculated approach, aiming to exert pressure and test boundaries without provoking an immediate, all-out conflict. The strategy appears to be a long-term effort to isolate and potentially absorb Taiwan through sustained military, economic, and diplomatic pressure.

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From this Chinese grand maneuver, you see nothing in Taiwan. So it's not like these fighter jets are thundering over Taipei.