China has initiated two days of live-fire military exercises surrounding Taiwan, asserting that these drills are designed to simulate a blockade of the island’s crucial ports. This action has drawn condemnation from Taipei, which characterized Beijing’s maneuvers as acts of “military intimidation.”
The Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan stated that these drills further illustrate China’s aggressive nature, labeling it as the “greatest destroyer of peace.” In response, Taiwan’s military established a response center, mobilized “appropriate forces,” and executed a rapid response exercise.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted live-fire training on maritime targets to the north and southwest of Taiwan, utilizing destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, bombers, and drones. A military spokesperson noted that the drills, code-named “Justice Mission 2025,” involve troops from the army, navy, air force, and rocket force.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi of the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command elaborated that the exercises would emphasize “sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockades on key ports and areas, and all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain.” A map detailing five large zones for further live-fire activities was also released, indicating that these operations would continue for ten hours on Tuesday.
To ensure safety, authorities advised that any unrelated vessels or aircraft refrain from entering the designated waters and airspace. During a regular news conference, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that any efforts to obstruct China’s unification with Taiwan were “doomed to fail,” warning that external forces attempting to use Taiwan as a means to contain China would only escalate tensions and lead to potential conflict.
In Taipei, Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo criticized China’s blatant disregard for international norms and its use of military intimidation to threaten neighboring countries. Additionally, Taiwan reported the detection of four Chinese coastguard vessels near its northern and eastern coasts, prompting its coastguard to deploy large vessels and additional support units to the relevant areas.
