In an enormous military exercise, it claims is to test its combat preparedness and give a stern warning to forces of Taiwan independence and foreign intervention, China has deployed air and naval forces, ground and rocket forces around Taiwan. This was announced following the United States’ granting an 11.1 billion weapon sale to Taiwan and the comments of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Japan could intervene in case of a Beijing attack.
The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command declared the exercise, which is titled Just Justice Mission 2025, comprising operations in five areas around Taiwan. The live-fire exercises will be conducted between 8 am and 6 pm (00:00-10:00 GMT) on Tuesday, and the marine and aviation traffic will be limited in the specified areas due to safety concerns.
Multi-Force Deployment and Port Blockade Drill
Chinese officials claimed that the exercises will involve fighter jets, aerial bombers, unmanned aerial vehicles, and long-range rockets. Military spokesperson Senior Colonel Shi Yi said that operations will involve sealing off important areas, retaking integrated control, and blocking sea and air approaches.
According to state media, special emphasis will be put on the Port of Keelung in northern Taiwan and Kaohsiung in the south, a step that analysts assert indicates that China is eager to perfect its blockade capabilities. The PLA units will allegedly attack Taiwan in various directions to prove the ability to deploy fast and attack together.
This is the sixth set of major drills conducted by China since 2022 and one of the most aggressive exercises that Chinese tries to act to prevent foreign intervention.
Taiwan Criticizes Irresponsible Provocation
The presidential office of Taiwan was very critical of Beijing’s moves and called on China to avoid misrepresenting the situation, which would jeopardize regional peace. Chinese presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo has expressed that the Chinese military intimidation is against international norms and a threat to other countries.
According to the Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan, there were two Chinese aircraft and 11 naval ships within the island’s territory over the last 24 hours. It reported that forces in Taiwan are on high alert and ready to carry out rapid-response drills aimed at countering a sudden escalation.
The ministry added that all the forces in our military will be alert and act directly to preserve democracy and freedom.
Message to the US and Japan
According to security analysts, the PLA’s statement is much more aggressive than in past exercises, and it directly mentions outside interference forces, which most believe are the U.S. and Japan. William Yang, the Senior Analyst of the North East Asia region with Crisis Group thought that the exercises were a clear warning that China was only determined to reject foreign military access to the conflict region.
The exercises also encompass a bigger perimeter than previous ones and this signifies the expanding ability by Beijing to coordinate multi-service assets on a large geographic level.
Background: Growing Nerves about Weapons and Security Assurances
These drills are closely related to Washington’s move to sell Taiwan its largest-ever defense package, which forced Beijing to impose sanctions on various U.S. defense firms. China accused Washington of destabilizing it and threatened that it would react by taking forceful action.
Beijing was also irate with a recent comment of the Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi that Japan would not come to the rescue in case of an attack on Taiwan by the Chinese. The claims of sovereignty by Chinese messaging have since been repeated, emphasizing that the Taiwanese repatriation is part of the Beijing post-World War Two territorial policy.
Taiwan Demands Strength Deterrence
Taiwan disapproves of China’s sovereignty, and only the island’s 23 million citizens can determine its destiny. President William Lai Ching-te has recently declared that Taiwan needs to increase its aggression costs through improving its defensive power.
Speaking of 2027 as the deadline by which China should be prepared to invade Taiwan, Lai stated that we cannot afford to fulfill their criterion. “Peace is based on deterrence and preparedness, so we should not give them a chance to do so.
Regional Stability at Stake
As live-fire exercises are expected to last several hours and large exclusion zones are declared, security observers warn that any minor mistake will heighten tensions. As China still justifies the maneuvers as a defensive warning, local governments in the region and international observers are keenly observing the situation without fearing the military conflict will turn into a heated one.
Taiwan explains that it is still prepared, but adamant in its stand that no one will intimidate its future.
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