The Taiwan Strait is once again boiling, and tensions between China and Taiwan are reaching a critical threshold. At the beginning of this week, Beijing intensified its show of military force by deploying fighter jets and warships all around the island, in what is described as a direct warning to Taiwanese "separatists." This surge in tension comes in a context where relations between Beijing and Taipei have continued to deteriorate since Lai Ching-te came to power in 2024, raising fears of an escalation with unpredictable consequences.