China is rehearsing a potential operational scenario against Taiwan that, in its underlying logic, resembles the abduction of Nicolás Maduro, reports the Japanese outlet Nikkei Asia. The publication’s sources point to a series of maneuvers by the People’s Liberation Army aimed at the so-called “decapitation” of an adversary. In their assessment, these actions closely echo US military operations in Venezuela, during which Maduro was seized.
At the same time, The New York Times reports, over the past two weeks Beijing has twice mobilized thousands of fishing vessels to rehearse blockade scenarios around Taiwan. The drills were conducted over the past fortnight and included several episodes of large-scale fleet deployment. In one instance, about 1,400 Chinese vessels halted their normal commercial activity and formed “floating barriers” stretching roughly 200 miles. In another episode, a similar “barrier” extended to 290 miles and was assembled with the participation of approximately 2,000 vessels.
These vessels are part of the so-called “people’s militia”—a formally civilian fleet that China can deploy for military purposes. Such ships are capable of congesting maritime routes, generating false targets for radar systems, and creating a “gray zone” between civilian and military activity. According to assessments by The New York Times analysts, Beijing has the capacity to mobilize thousands of civilian vessels on short notice to establish control over vast maritime areas.