The heavy morning fog set the stage for misunderstanding and misjudgment. A minor collision between two naval vessels escalated unexpectedly when shots rang out. As the fog lifted, Taipei mourned the loss of a navy boat and its crew, prompting Beijing to launch an investigation.

Initially deemed a manageable incident, tensions quickly spiraled out of control. Accusations of provocative actions fueled nationalist fervor on social media, with calls for swift retaliation echoing across the Taiwan Strait.

As the sun set on that fateful day, naval vessels amassed, and fighter jets scrambled. With war on the horizon, who would blink first?

On a geopolitical fault line that breeds conflict, peace is shaky. To secure peace, let no aggressor find a pathway to victory.

Author: renqiulan

The U.S. Naval Institute (USNI):

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy's deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 29, 2024, based on Navy and public data.