China did military drills around Taiwan
By Kanis Leung Associated Press
Hong Kong (AP) — For a second day, China’s military on Tuesday dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing called a “stern warning” against separatist and “external interference” forces. Taiwan said it was placing forces on alert and called the Chinese government “the biggest destroyer of peace.”
Taiwan’s aviation authority said more than 100,000 international air travelers would be affected by flight cancellations or diversions.
The two days of drills — dubbed “Justice Mission 2025” — came after Beijing expressed outrage at what could be the largest-ever U.S. arms sale to the self-ruled territory, and at a statement by Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, saying its military could get involved if China takes action against Taiwan. China says Taiwan must come under its rule.
China’s military did not mention the United States and Japan in its statement on Monday, but Beijing’s foreign ministry accused Taiwan’s ruling party of trying to seek independence through requesting U.S. support. And on Tuesday morning, the official Xinhua News Agency quoted a government spokesperson saying that any efforts to that end would be “doomed.”
“We urge relevant countries to abandon the illusion of using Taiwan to contain China, and to refrain from challenging China’s resolve in safeguarding its core interests,” said Zhang Xiaogang of China’s Defense Ministry.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said rapid response exercises were underway, with forces on high alert. “The Chinese Communist Party’s targeted military exercises further confirm its nature as an aggressor and the biggest destroyer of peace,” it said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he was not informed of the military exercise in advance but that he was not worried because China has been “doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area.” Touting his “great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump suggested he didn’t think Xi was going to attack Taiwan.
Drills are not uncommon
Beijing sends warplanes and navy vessels toward the island on a near-daily basis, and in recent years it has stepped up the scope and scale of the exercises.
Senior Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson of China’s People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command, said the drills would be conducted in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of the island.
Shi said activities would focus on sea-air combat readiness patrol, “joint seizure of comprehensive superiority” and blockades on key ports. It was the first large-scale military drill where the command publicly mentioned one goal was “all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain.”
“It is a stern warning against ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and external interference forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity,” Shi said.
China did military drills around Taiwan
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing. Defeated Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan. The island has operated since then with its own government, though the mainland’s government claims it as sovereign territory.
Capabilities are tested
China’s command on Monday deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles, alongside long-range rockets, to the north and southwest of the Taiwan Strait. It carried out live-fire exercises against targets in the waters. Among other training, drills to test the capabilities of sea-air coordination and precise target hunting were conducted in the waters and airspace to the east of the strait.
Hsieh Jih-sheng, deputy chief of the general staff for intelligence of the Taiwanese Defense Ministry, said that as of 3 p.m. Monday, 89 aircraft and drones were operating around the strait, with 67 of them entering the “response zone” — airspace under the force’s monitoring and response. The ministry detected 14 navy ships around the strait and four other warships in the Western Pacific, in addition to 14 coast guard vessels.
“Conducting live-fire exercises around the Taiwan Strait … does not only mean military pressure on us. It may bring more complex impact and challenges to the international community and neighboring countries,” Hsieh told reporters.
Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said Chinese authorities had issued a notice saying seven temporary dangerous zones would be set up around the strait to carry out rocket-firing exercises from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., barring aircraft from entering them.
The Taiwanese aviation authority said more than 850 international flights were initially scheduled during that period and the drills would affect over 100,000 travelers. Over 80 domestic flights, involving around 6,000 passengers, were also canceled, it added.
Commercial airlines began to announce dozens of cancellations and delays for domestic routes across Taiwan, particularly ones along islands near China.
The Chinese command released themed posters about the drills online accompanied by provocative wording. One depicted two shields with the Great Wall alongside three military aircraft and two ships. Its social media post said the drills were about the “Shield of Justice, Smashing Illusion,” adding that any foreign interlopers or separatists touching the shields would be eliminated.
Last week, Beijing imposed sanctions against 20 U.S. defense-related companies and 10 executives, a week after Washington announced large-scale arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion. It still requires approval by the U.S. Congress.
Under U.S. federal law in place for many years, Washington is obligated to assist Taipei with its defense, a point that has become increasingly contentious with China. The U.S. and Taiwan had formal diplomatic relations until 1979, when President Jimmy Carter’s administration recognized and established relations with Beijing.
Taiwanese army on high alert
Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the Taiwanese president’s office, said the drills were undermining the stability and security of the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region and openly challenging international law and order.
“Our country strongly condemns the Chinese authorities for disregarding international norms and using military intimidation to threaten neighboring countries.” she said.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry released a video that featured its weapons and forces in a show of resilience. Multiple French Mirage-2000 aircraft conducted landings at an air force base.
In October, the Taiwanese government said it would accelerate the building of a “Taiwan Shield” or “T-Dome” air defense system in the face of the military threat from China.
The military tensions came a day after Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said he hoped the Taiwan Strait would be associated with peace and prosperity, instead of “crashing waves and howling winds,” during a trip to Shanghai.
Notes from APS Radio News
Whenever possible, APS Radio News endeavors to present perspectives in addition to those of official narratives.
This news story presents such an opportunity.
The People’s Daily Online, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, presented this commentary, concerning military exercises that are being conducted around Taiwan:
Commentary: The clear message behind the PLA’s latest drills around Taiwan
(Xinhua) 08:21, December 30, 2025
Beijing, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) — The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday launched a series of drills code-named “Justice Mission 2025” around Taiwan Island, dispatching troops from its ground, air, naval and rocket forces to deter “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and external interference.
This sends an unequivocal message that Beijing at all times stands ready to crush any secession plot aiming to split Taiwan from the motherland. Each escalation in provocation will be met with stronger countermeasures. The PLA is ready to fight at any moment, and is certain to prevail if and when it does fight.
For years, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan have obstinately attempted to seek U.S. support for their separatist agenda, recklessly turning Taiwan into a “powder keg.”
This only serves to expose their true colors as a troublemaker and warmonger. Such actions will only bring disasters to Taiwan.
By currying favor with the United States through obsequious loyalty gestures and promoting arms purchases, the DPP is binding the entire island of Taiwan to its catastrophic secessionist chariot, disregarding public opinion.
Recently, the United States announced a package of arms sales to Taiwan totaling 11 billion U.S. dollars. And the island’s leader, Lai Ching-te, has planned to continue spending massively on purchases of U.S. arms in the coming eight years. These facts have exposed the collusion between the U.S. and the DPP to harm the interests of the people in Taiwan.
Mounting public fury is now translating into concrete action. A motion for Lai’s impeachment has been approved by Taiwan’s local legislature, and over eight million people have signed online petitions in support.
People in Taiwan want peace. They want exchange and cooperation with their fellow Chinese on the other side of the Strait. They are unwilling to act as a pawn for external powers attempting to contain China.
Since coming to power, the DPP has squandered the hard-earned money of Taiwan taxpayers on a futile endeavor, crowding out essential services such as education, health care and social welfare while lavishing resources on U.S. arms purchases.
From 2020 to 2022, Taiwan was the United States’ largest weapons buyer. By 2024, Taiwan’s military budget had nearly doubled from eight years earlier. Taiwan’s military spending for 2026 is budgeted at 3.32 percent of its regional GDP, a record high since 2009.
By squandering the island’s public wealth and colluding with external forces to drain its resources, the DPP authorities are imposing a long-term burden on people’s livelihoods and jeopardizing the development prospects of Taiwan.
The DPP’s fanciful attempts to pursue “Taiwan independence” by relying on U.S. support will only heighten tensions in the Taiwan Strait and push the island’s residents toward the brink of conflicts.
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan offer no protective shield for the island; they serve merely as a cash machine for U.S. arms dealers.
The PLA’s drills are a clear reminder for the DPP that the trend of national reunification is unstoppable, and that the will of the people cannot be defied.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
