China deploys 'more than 100 vessels' sparking major invasion fears

 Taiwan has accused China of deploying more than 100 vessels over the past few days, as fears the territory may be invaded by Beijing remain after Donald Trump's visit. Joseph Wu, the Secretary-General at the Taiwanese National Security Council, took to X on Saturday to share a map, accusing Beijing of having deployed dozens of vessels around the First Island Chain, a geopolitically significant area encompassing the Japanese archipelago, Taiwan and northern Philippines among others.

He wrote on X: "Our ISR/intel shows that the #PRC has deployed over 100 vessels around the #1stIslandChain over the past few days, so soon after the #Beijing summit. In this part of the world, #China is the one & only PROBLEM wrecking the #StatusQuo & threatening regional peace & stability."

The map alleges the deployment of Chinese vessels stretches across a large area, from the Yellow Sea to the much-contended South China Sea.

There is no indication the Chinese vessels have entered the national waters of any country in the area.

A Taiwan security official claimed marine survey, research ships, coast guard and military vessels were among the boats deployed over the past few days, AFP reports.

Taiwan holds its political elections and has its own military and currency, but the territory is not recognised as a state by most nations, including the UK.

Similarly, the US doesn't recognise Taiwan as a state and doesn't have diplomatic ties with the territory. It acknowledges the "one China" position endorsed by Beijing, but doesn't officially embrace it, and seeks peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The US is also one of the main providers of arms to Taiwan, something which has long irked Beijing.

On May 22, it emerged the US was pausing a £10.4billion arms sale to the territory - to ensure it has enough weapons for the war in Iran, according to acting Navy secretary Hung Cao.

At the end of his official trip to China, US President Donald Trump said he had made "no commitment either way" while speaking to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping other defending Taiwan should Beijing launch an attack.

Fears of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan remain, with Mr Xi using his New Year's address to deliver a threat to Taiwan, warning of China's "unstoppable power". He said in a speech televised by state broadcaster CCTV: "Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are bound by blood ties thicker than water, and the historical trend toward national reunification is unstoppable."