BEIJING/TAIPEI: China on Monday launched large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, deploying army, naval, air force and artillery units as part of drills named “Justice Mission 2025”, prompting Taiwan to place its forces on high alert and reaffirm its resolve to defend democracy.
Read More: Beijing sanctions signal rising Taiwan tensions
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command said the drills included coordinated operations by fighter jets, bombers, drones and long-range rocket forces, with live-fire exercises scheduled for Tuesday. The command announced temporary sea and airspace restrictions in five zones surrounding Taiwan for 10 hours starting at 8am local time.
🇨🇳🇹🇼 China launches large-scale military drills encircling Taiwan, calling them a “stern warning” to Taiwan independence separatist forces.
Live-fire destroyers, frigates, fighter-bombers and drones are rehearsing missile strikes targeting key Taiwanese ports.
Follow: @europa pic.twitter.com/E774Db31Vs
— Europa.com (@europa) December 29, 2025
This marks China’s sixth major round of war games around Taiwan since 2022, following heightened tensions over Beijing’s territorial claims. The exercises come days after the United States approved a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, a move Beijing condemned and warned would provoke a forceful response.
A spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command said the drills were intended as a “serious warning” to what China called separatist forces advocating Taiwan’s independence and to external interference. State media said the exercises included simulations of strikes on mobile targets and blockades of key ports, including Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south.
Taiwan’s government strongly condemned the drills, calling them irresponsible and destabilising. A presidential office spokesperson urged Beijing to halt provocations and avoid misjudging the situation, warning that such actions threatened regional peace.
Taiwan’s defence ministry said Chinese aircraft and vessels had been detected operating around the island over the past 24 hours. In response, the military launched rapid-response exercises designed to counter any sudden escalation from drills to real attack.
Read More: China vows to defend Taiwan sovereignty
Despite the tensions, Taiwan’s financial markets remained calm, with stocks rising to record levels. Many residents described the exercises as intimidation tactics, while reiterating that Taiwan’s future should be decided solely by its people.