China has initiated live-fire military exercises around Taiwan, calling them a warning to “separatist forces” in Taiwan and any “external interference” from foreign countries.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the military branch of China’s ruling Communist Party, said it deployed naval, air force, and rocket units to surround Taiwan on Monday morning. Chinese coast guard ships were also sent to conduct “law enforcement inspections” in waters around the island.
The exercise, named Justice Mission 2025, is described by the PLA as “a stern warning against ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and external interference forces,” according to Col Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command.
He added, “It is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.”
Taiwan Condemns the Drills
Taiwan’s defence ministry accused Beijing of escalating tensions and undermining regional peace. It “strongly condemned” the drills, stating that it had dispatched “appropriate forces” and was conducting counter combat-readiness exercises.
The ministry said, “Defending democracy and freedom is no provocation, and the existence of the Republic of China [Taiwan’s formal name] is not an excuse for aggressors to disrupt the status quo.”
Taiwan’s coast guard added that the drills “pose a significant threat to the navigational safety of vessels in Taiwan’s waters and to the operational rights of fishermen.”
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China’s Position and Military Plans
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has been preparing for possible annexation. The country is undergoing a massive military modernization and expansion, aiming to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027, according to past US intelligence assessments.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party have called for Taiwan to accept “peaceful reunification,” using a combination of incentives and threats. However, the majority of Taiwan’s government and population reject CCP rule and are strengthening their military defenses.
Regional Tensions Escalate
These drills, the PLA’s first targeting Taiwan since April, come amid rising tensions with Japan, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan.
The exercises also follow US approval of $11 billion in weapons sales to Taiwan and speeches by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who pledged to enhance Taiwan’s combat readiness by 2027. Beijing responded angrily to these developments.
Details of Justice Mission 2025
According to China’s Eastern Theatre Command, “The vessels and aircraft will approach the Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions to test the capabilities of the troops to conduct rapid manoeuvres, form all-dimensional posture, and execute systemic blockade and control.”
The announcement included propaganda videos and maps highlighting restricted air and maritime zones, with three large areas around southern Taiwan and two zones to the north and northwest.
The PLA said it deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers, drones, and long-range missiles, testing sea-air coordination and precision strikes, including attacks on submarines and other maritime targets.
Analysts Highlight Unusual Scale
The full scale of the drills is unclear, but experts note that the exercise areas were larger and closer to Taiwan’s main island than usual. For the first time, the PLA explicitly stated it was practicing to deter international involvement, with several PLA aircraft remaining visible on radar.
William Yang, senior North-East Asia analyst at the International Crisis Group, said, “That is a signal that the PLA is building up their anti-access/area denial capabilities, and publicly declaring it.”
Background and Previous Exercises
Justice Mission 2025 is the sixth major PLA exercise targeting Taiwan since 2022, when large drills were conducted after then-US Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. In April, the PLA held Strait Thunder-2025A, fueling speculation of a “B” exercise later in the year.
Yang noted that Taiwan’s national security officials had anticipated large-scale drills as part of China’s pressure campaign following Takaichi’s statements. He also pointed out that this exercise is the second major PLA drill during the second term of US President Donald Trump, who met Xi Jinping in October without discussing Taiwan.
He added, “Beijing will likely take into account the response from the US [to these drills] and carefully determine how it should formulate and plan the PLA’s military operation.”