Taiwanese defense officials are expressing growing apprehension over a significant mobilization of Chinese naval vessels and military aircraft near the Taiwan Strait in the past 24 hours. This escalation follows Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's recent visits to Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam, a trip that has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own.

A Taiwan fighter jet lands at an airbase in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, left) Right: Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images, right.)

Taiwanese officials report that approximately a dozen ships and 47 military planes have been deployed to the waters surrounding Taiwan. This military posturing comes mere weeks after the United States approved a potential $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which includes advanced air defense missile systems and radar technology.

Lt. Gen. Hsieh Jih-sheng of Taiwan's military has stated that China's naval deployment is effectively creating a double blockade, one around Taiwan itself and another further out, encompassing the first island chain. He interprets this as a clear assertion of Chinese dominance over the Taiwan Strait.

While Chinese officials have labeled the deployment as a training exercise, Lt. Gen. Hsieh cautioned that such exercises could easily escalate into drills and ultimately into armed conflict. Taiwan's military has responded by establishing an emergency response center and implementing flight restrictions off China's east coast.

Taiwan's fighter jets at an airbase in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

The United States has consistently demonstrated its support for Taiwan through arms sales, military operations, and diplomatic engagements. These actions, however, have frequently been met with aggressive responses from Beijing. Past visits by high-ranking U.S. officials, such as former House Speakers Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy, have resulted in Chinese military drills near Taiwan. Similar drills followed President Lai's inauguration in May and his National Day address in October.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., (Getty Images)

Adding to the complex geopolitical landscape, President-elect Trump's nominations for key positions, including Secretary of State (Sen. Marco Rubio), UN Ambassador (Rep. Elise Stefanik), and National Security Advisor (Rep. Michael Waltz), are individuals often viewed as taking a hard line on China. Sen. Rubio has publicly expressed his expectation that a second Trump administration would continue its support for Taiwan, including urging increased Taiwanese defense spending.