China Conducts Major Military Drills Around Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions

Mon Dec 29 2025 23:47:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

China initiates extensive military exercises near Taiwan, claiming it's a warning to separatist forces, coinciding with U.S. arms sales to the island and escalating geopolitical tensions.

In a significant military escalation, China has commenced large-scale drills around Taiwan, simulating scenarios for the seizure and blockade of the island. Named 'Justice Mission 2025', the exercises follow a recent U.S. arms deal with Taiwan and are aimed at deterring independence movements, as stated by the Chinese military. Taiwan has responded with heightened defense measures and public condemnation of the drills, while also emphasizing its own sovereignty amidst these tensions.

China is holding military drills around Taiwan simulating the seizure and blockade of the island's key areas, as a warning against 'separatist forces'.

The army, navy, air force and rocket force have been dispatched for the drills which include live-fire exercises, the Chinese military said.

Codenamed 'Justice Mission 2025', the drills are taking place days after the US announced the sale of one of its largest weapons packages to Taiwan worth $11bn (£8.2bn). That move drew sharp protest from Beijing which in turn sanctioned US defence firms.

Taiwan's push to ramp up its defence this year has also angered Beijing, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory.

Taiwan's presidential office has criticised the upcoming Chinese drills, calling them a challenge to international norms. Its defence ministry said it had detected 89 Chinese military aircraft and 28 warships and coastguard vessels near Taiwan on Monday.

The ministry stated separately it had deployed its own missile systems and forces to monitor the situation, adding they are on 'high alert' to defend Taiwan and 'protect our people'.

In a post on Weibo, the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command - in charge of the Taiwan Strait - described the upcoming military exercise as a 'shield of justice'.

'All those plotting independence will be annihilated upon encountering the shield!' the post read.

Beijing's foreign ministry referred to the drills as a 'severe punishment for separatist forces seeking independence through force' and warned 'external forces' against 'using Taiwan to contain China'.

Since 2022, Beijing has ramped up military drills in the Taiwan Strait, usually in response to what it deems as threats, including the former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022.

This week's military drills are the first to be held under Yang Zhibin, the new chief of the Eastern Theater Command who assumed his role in October.

Taiwan holds military exercises of its own, intending to prepare its population for an attack and showcase its defences to Beijing. This year's Han Kuang exercise was the largest and longest one yet.