China Launches Largest Military Drills Near Taiwan in Eight Months Amid Rising Tensions
TAIPEI, Taiwan — China has initiated its most extensive military encirclement of Taiwan in eight months, conducting large-scale live-fire exercises that included rocket launches, naval maneuvers, and aerial operations. The drills, dubbed “Justice Mission 2025,” began on Monday and escalated on Tuesday with rockets fired into waters north of Taiwan, according to footage released by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command.
The exercise involved coordinated deployments of ground forces, naval vessels, fighter jets, drones, and artillery across seven maritime zones surrounding Taiwan. Video captured by the PLA showed long-range rocket launches and bomber aircraft taking off during nighttime operations, underscoring the scale and intensity of the maneuvers.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the drills coincided with heightened tensions following a record-setting arms sale from the United States to Taipei, which Beijing views as provocative. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that rockets fired by Chinese forces landed within its 24-nautical-mile territorial waters, a move that further inflamed regional security concerns.
As of early Tuesday, Taiwanese authorities tracked 130 PLA aircraft sorties, 14 naval vessels, and eight other official ships operating around the island. Nearly 90 of these sorties crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zones. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense stated it was closely monitoring the situation and deploying its own forces to respond.
Taiwanese Vice President William Lai Ching-te condemned the drills, stating that Beijing’s actions “have continued to escalate military tension in the region, which is not the behavior of a responsible world power.” He emphasized that Taiwan “will not provoke a confrontation, nor seek conflict with China,” reaffirming the island’s commitment to maintaining peace despite the aggressive posturing.
The PLA spokesperson Li Xi, speaking through the state-run Xinhua News Agency, declared that the drills achieved their intended results, highlighting simulated strikes on maritime targets, anti-air, and anti-submarine operations. Destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, and bombers participated in the exercises, demonstrating China’s integrated military capabilities in the region.
These developments come amid a broader context of strained cross-strait relations and increased international attention on Taiwan’s security. The U.S. Department of State has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, while urging restraint from all parties to avoid destabilizing the region.
Meanwhile, Taiwan is advancing a $40 billion defense spending plan aimed at countering the growing military threat from China over the next decade. This plan includes investments in missile defense, naval assets, and advanced aircraft to enhance deterrence.
The latest drills underscore the fragile security environment in the Taiwan Strait, where military posturing by Beijing continues to raise alarms among regional and global powers. Analysts warn that such large-scale exercises could increase the risk of miscalculations and unintended conflict if diplomatic channels are not maintained.
For ongoing updates on this developing situation, refer to official releases from the U.S. Department of Defense Newsroom and Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.
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