Taiwan’s military is on high alert today after detecting Chinese warships near the island. Taiwan’s defence ministry said that its forces had identified PLA Eastern, Northern, and Southern Theatre Command naval formations, along with Coast Guard vessels, entering areas around the Taiwan Strait and the Western Pacific. The ministry also reported spotting Chinese Coast Guard vessels and noted that the People’s Liberation Army had restricted airspace off the Chinese coast. According to media reports, there is intense speculation about the possibility of China launching military drills in response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s trip to the Pacific, which included stopovers in Hawaii and Guam.