China conducted 10 hours of live-firing exercises near Taiwan on Tuesday, deploying new amphibious assault ships, bomber aircraft, and warships as part of its largest-ever war games focused on practicing a blockade of the island. Taiwan responded by placing its forces on alert and condemning the Chinese government as “the biggest destroyer of peace.”
The Eastern Theatre Command stated that the drills would continue until 6 p.m. in the sea and airspace of five locations surrounding Taiwan. Naval and air force units engaged in strikes on maritime and aerial targets, as well as anti-submarine operations to the north and south of the democratically governed island. Taiwan’s aviation authority announced that over 100,000 international air travelers would be impacted by flight cancellations or diversions, with limited commercial flight access only through a northeast corridor to Japan.
China’s Maritime Safety Administration expanded designated zones for live-firing exercises on Monday, making the “Justice Mission 2025” drills the largest in terms of coverage and proximity to Taiwan compared to previous exercises. These war games commenced 11 days after the U.S. announced a significant arms package to Taiwan, triggering strong reactions from the Chinese defense ministry.
Analysts believe that the exercises, China’s sixth major round of war games since 2022, are designed to simulate a swift encirclement of Taiwan to neutralize its weapons stockpile and impede efforts to replenish from Japan or nearby U.S. bases. Taiwan expressed concerns over the provocative nature of these actions, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Taiwan Strait for global trade and regional connectivity.
Taipei is closely monitoring China’s activities to assess potential escalations during the drills, including the possibility of flying missiles over Taiwan, similar to past incidents. The Chinese military emphasized testing its sea and air forces’ coordination for integrated containment and control through various operations, while Taiwan reported significant Chinese military presence around the island, including aircraft and navy vessels crossing the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that he was not pre-informed about the military exercises but downplayed concerns, citing China’s long-standing naval activities in the region. Trump expressed confidence in his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, indicating skepticism towards the likelihood of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Despite China’s claims of national unity, Taiwan asserts its right for self-determination regarding its future.