China launched live-fire military drills around Taiwan on Monday, simulating a blockade of major ports and attacks on maritime targets. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) deployed navy, air force, rocket force, and coastguard in a surprise exercise called 'Justice Mission 2025,' announced less than an hour before it began.
The PLA's eastern theatre command said it had deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers, drones, and long-range missiles 'in close proximity' to Taiwan, testing 'sea-air coordination and precise target hunting and neutralisation,' including attacks on submarines. Taiwan's defence ministry reported 28 navy and coastguard ships, with two entering Taiwan's contiguous zone, and at least 89 warplanes—the largest daily tally in over a year.
Col Shi Yi, PLA eastern theatre command spokesperson, said the drills were 'a stern warning against Taiwan independence separatist forces and external interference forces.' Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that unnamed 'external parties' were pushing the region closer to war, adding, 'Any sinister schemes to obstruct China's reunification are doomed to fail.'
China's defence ministry said 'relevant countries'—a reference to the US—should 'abandon illusions of using Taiwan to contain China.' Analysts linked the drills to recent US approval of a record $11 billion weapons sale to Taiwan, as well as speeches by Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, vowing to boost defences, and Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggesting military involvement if China attacked Taiwan.
Fu Zhengnan, a researcher at the PLA's Academy of Military Science, said the drills were justified by the US weapons sales, which included offensive equipment. 'Despite repeated warnings from China, the US and Taiwan engaged in serious collusion and provocation. The PLA's decisive action was a reasonable, legal and forced response,' Fu said.
Taiwan condemned the drills, accusing Beijing of escalating tensions and undermining regional peace. The island's defence ministry said it dispatched 'appropriate forces' to respond and conducted its own counter-combat-readiness exercises. 'Defending democracy and freedom is no provocation, and the existence of the Republic of China is not an excuse for aggressors to disrupt the status quo,' the ministry said.
