IRIA News

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China has launched its largest and most comprehensive round of military exercises around Taiwan to date, aimed at underscoring Beijing’s determination to safeguard national sovereignty and counter what it describes as escalating separatist activity and foreign interference in its internal affairs.

The drills, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” were initiated by the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command and involve coordinated deployments of army, navy, air force, and rocket force units.

The exercises include live-fire drills, simulated precision strikes on land and maritime targets, and blockade scenarios targeting key ports and access routes around Taiwan.

Chinese officials described the drills as a stern warning to “Taiwan independence” forces and their external backers, stressing that the actions are defensive, lawful, and necessary in response to rising provocations that have undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the exercises are aimed at curbing collusion between separatist forces on the island and foreign powers, which he said has become the primary source of instability in the region.

Multiple forces of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted drills code-named “Justice Mission 2025” around Taiwan Island Monday. pic.twitter.com/AN4wuKe1Da

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) December 29, 2025

“We will never tolerate or condone any ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist acts, and we will strike back with force,” Chen said.

He accused the administration of Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te of pursuing independence “without principle,” sacrificing the island’s economic development and the well-being of its people by courting foreign military support and embracing militarization.

Chen emphasized that the drills are not directed at ordinary people in Taiwan, but rather at those pushing separatism and external interference.

“The historical trend toward national reunification is unstoppable,” he said. “No one should underestimate our firm determination, unwavering will, and strong capabilities to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Scale and Scope of the Exercises

According to the Eastern Theater Command, the drills span a record seven designated zones, some of which are closer to Taiwan than in previous exercises. Live-fire activities will continue through Tuesday, with artillery firing, naval maneuvers, air patrols, and joint strike simulations designed to test integrated combat readiness.

The PLA said the exercises focus on encircling the island, sealing off major ports such as Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south, and practicing denial of external military access. State media described the drills as a “shield of justice” against interference.

This marks China’s sixth major round of drills since 2022, reflecting what Beijing sees as a pattern of escalating challenges, including repeated arms sales by the United States and increasingly explicit political statements from Japan regarding Taiwan.

Response to Foreign Arms Sales and Rhetoric

Chinese officials have explicitly linked the timing of the exercises to Washington’s recent approval of an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the largest such package to date. Beijing has repeatedly warned that such sales violate the one-China principle and embolden separatist forces.

China’s defense ministry has protested the deal and imposed sanctions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 senior executives, arguing that continued militarization of the Taiwan issue risks pushing the region toward confrontation.

The drills also follow remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting that Japan could become involved in a Taiwan conflict, comments Beijing condemned as dangerous interference.

China’s Foreign Ministry said the exercises constitute a “severe punishment for separatist forces seeking independence through force” and warned external actors against “using Taiwan to contain China.”

“Any sinister schemes to obstruct China’s reunification are doomed to fail,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

Demonstrating Modernized Capabilities

During the drills, the Chinese military released footage showcasing advanced systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles, microdrones, automated humanoid robots, and weaponized robotic dogs, signaling the PLA’s rapid modernization and growing emphasis on joint, technology-driven operations.

Military analysts within China said the exercises demonstrate enhanced anti-access and area-denial capabilities, designed to prevent outside forces from intervening in a Taiwan-related contingency.

Fu Zhengyuan, a researcher at the PLA’s Academy of Military Science, said the drills were justified by increasing interoperability between Taiwanese and U.S. combat systems, which he warned raises the risk of a direct clash between major powers.

Taiwan’s Reaction and Limited Impact

Taiwan authorities condemned the drills, placing their military on high alert and conducting what they described as “rapid response exercises.” The island’s defense ministry said it detected 89 Chinese military aircraft, 14 naval vessels, and 14 coast guard ships operating around the island on Monday.

Despite official rhetoric, daily life on the island remained largely unaffected. Taiwan’s stock market closed 0.9% higher, and port authorities said commercial shipping continued with minimal disruption. Aviation authorities worked to reroute flights due to temporary danger zones declared for live-fire activities.

Some residents downplayed the drills. “Similar exercises have happened before,” said one teacher in Taipei, adding that ordinary people were focused on daily life rather than military signaling.

Reunification Framed as Historical Inevitability

Beijing continues to stress that it prefers peaceful reunification, but maintains the right to use non-peaceful means if separatist forces cross red lines. Chinese officials argue that the growing involvement of external powers has narrowed the space for dialogue and increased risks unnecessarily.

State media described the exercises as a legitimate and necessary action to uphold national unity, protect long-term regional stability, and deter reckless moves that could turn Taiwan into what Chinese officials call a geopolitical “powder keg.”

“The responsibility for tension lies squarely with separatist forces and those who arm and encourage them,” one commentary said, adding that stability in the Taiwan Strait depends on respecting China’s sovereignty and abandoning zero-sum strategies.

As the drills continue, Beijing’s message remains consistent that any efforts to divide China or interfere in its internal affairs will be met with firm, measured, and increasingly capable responses, while the path to lasting peace lies in rejecting separatism and returning to dialogue under the one-China framework.