China Launches Military Drills Encompassing Taiwan

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On Monday, December 29, 2025, China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched its largest military exercise of the year, codenamed "Justice Mission 2025," effectively encircling Taiwan with a multi-branch show of force. The Eastern Theatre Command, under its new chief Yang Zhibin, deployed the army, navy, air force, and rocket force to simulate a systemic blockade of the island's key ports and energy facilities. Beijing described the live-fire manoeuvres as a "stern warning" to separatist forces and a "shield of justice" against external interference. The drills include precise strikes on land and maritime targets, with Chinese aircraft and vessels reportedly closing in on Taiwan’s contiguous zone, signaling a significant escalation in regional military pressure.

The timing of the operation is a direct response to a record-breaking $11.1 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan announced earlier this month, as well as deepening defence rhetoric from Japan. Beijing has specifically lashed out at Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for suggesting that Tokyo could intervene militarily in a Taiwan contingency, a move that prompted China to issue travel warnings and sanction American defence firms. While Taiwan’s Defence Ministry has placed its forces on high alert and condemned the "irrational provocation," President Lai Ching-te maintains a commitment to the "status quo" while vowing to bolster the island’s asymmetric defences. International analysts warn that these manoeuvres increasingly blur the line between training and a potential prelude to invasion.