China News : China Launches ‘Justice Mission 2025’ Military Drills Around Taiwan, Raises Regional Tensions

China on Monday announced the launch of a large-scale, inter-service joint military exercise around Taiwan, reinforcing its long-standing claim over the self-governed island, which Beijing insists is an “inalienable part” of its territory.

According to China Daily, the exercise—codenamed “Justice Mission 2025”—is being conducted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command and involves coordinated participation from ground forces, the navy, air force, missile units and other military branches.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theatre Command, said the drills include air and maritime patrols, simulated strikes on hostile targets, blockades of key ports and strategic areas, and deterrence operations along the periphery of the operational zone.

“The operation includes air and sea patrols, suppression of hostile forces, blockades of critical ports and zones, and battlefield periphery deterrence, and is intended to test our forces’ joint combat capabilities,” Shi said, as quoted by China Daily.

He added that PLA aircraft and naval vessels are manoeuvring around Taiwan from multiple directions, while different service branches are conducting simulated joint strikes to assess rapid deployment and all-domain operational coordination.

Describing the exercise as a “stern warning,” Shi said the drills are aimed at countering “Taiwan independence” forces and what Beijing terms external interference in the Taiwan issue. He asserted that the operation is necessary to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.

The Eastern Theatre Command also released a themed poster titled “Shield of Justice, Smashing Illusion” in connection with the exercise.

As part of the drills, China has deployed fighter jets, bombers, unmanned aerial vehicles and long-range rocket forces to conduct exercises in the central airspace and waters of the Taiwan Strait. The focus, officials said, is on engaging mobile ground targets and testing the military’s ability to carry out precision strikes on key objectives.

The latest military activity comes amid heightened tensions following the US administration’s approval, under President Donald Trump, of a major arms package for Taiwan on December 18. According to the US State Department, the proposed sales—valued at USD 11.1 billion—include medium-range missiles, howitzers, drones, HIMARS rocket systems and anti-tank weapons.

China has strongly condemned the US move, stating that it “seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués” and undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As a countermeasure, Beijing last week announced sanctions against US defence-related firms and executives. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said sanctions would be imposed on 20 US defence companies and 10 senior executives involved in supplying weapons to Taiwan, under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Taiwan criticised Beijing’s military drills, calling them an “irrational provocation” that threatens regional stability.

“We strongly condemn the PRC’s irrational provocations and oppose the PLA’s actions that undermine regional peace,” Taiwan’s Minister of National Defence said in a post on X, adding that rapid response exercises were under way and forces were on high alert to defend the island and protect its people.

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