After detecting “multiple waves” of missiles firing deep in inland China, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the island was on alert. This took place days after Beijing said it had carried out a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Such an event increases tensions between Taiwan and China, highlighting the possibility of a future armed conflict.

“It’s an irreversible trend, a cause of righteousness and the common aspiration of the people. No one can stop the march of history,” reiterated the Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the eve of Communist China’s 75th birthday, referring to the reunification of Taiwan with mainland China.

However, according to public opinion polls, there is not enough support for the unification with China among Taiwan citizens. On the contrary, many people on the island identify themselves as distinctly Taiwanese and have no desire to be part of the People’s Republic of China.

Tensions over China-Taiwan relations have escalated recently, which has concerned the international community about the possibility of an armed conflict. Despite that, these tensions are not new, and disagreements over Taiwan’s sovereignty have been central to the problem. Taiwan is an island, separated from China, that has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. However, China does not recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty and plans to eventually “unify” its territory with the mainland.

Taiwan’s forces have confirmed that they are “continuously monitoring relevant developments, and air defense forces have maintained a high level of vigilance and strengthened their alert,” said Taiwan’s Defense Ministry in a statement.

The main concern is the possibility of the People’s Republic of China to resort to military force in an attempt to reassert sovereignty over Taiwan, creating a war scenario in the Asia-Pacific region. If that is the case, we can expect political instability in the area and international community involvement in the conflict. President Joe Biden, for instance, has already approved $567 million in military support for Taiwan this week, which marks the most extensive aid package the United States has granted the island.

As geopolitical tensions continue to escalate, apprehension increases in the Asia-Pacific region. These recent missile firings deep in inland China have intensified an already turbulent political landscape, which pushes away even more the possibility of solving this issue peacefully through diplomatic efforts. Such current tendency raises concern about a potential armed conflict in the region, which highlights even more the need to strengthen international cooperation and dialogue to prevent further war escalation.