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The Chinese military today announced the mobilization of army, navy, air force and missile units around Taiwan for military exercises aimed at testing what it called combat readiness and to send a “serious warning” against any attempt at Taiwan independence. China has significantly stepped up its encirclement exercises on Taiwan since 2022, following then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, which represented a significant show of support for Taiwan and infuriated Beijing’s leadership. The latest exercises, called “Just Mission 2025,” are divided into five blocks around the island, including the Taiwan Strait, north, southwest, southeast and east Taiwan.
China said it has started military live-fire drills near Taiwan, hours after announcing “major” drills in waters and airspace near the self-ruled democratic island. Beijing’s military “is employing destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles” in today’s exercises, which include “live-fire training on maritime targets north and southwest of Taiwan,” a statement from the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said.
The government of Taiwan has condemned the military maneuvers undertaken by the Chinese armed forces in the Strait and in areas to the north, south-west, south-east and east of the island. A spokesperson for the presidential office urged China not to misunderstand the situation or undermine regional peace, and called on Beijing to immediately put an end to what he described as “irresponsible provocations.” “In response to the Chinese authorities’ disregard for international norms and use of military intimidation to threaten neighboring countries, Taiwan expresses its strong condemnation,” said Karen Kuo, a spokeswoman for the presidential office. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said two Chinese military planes and 11 ships operated around the island in the past 24 hours and that the island’s military was on high alert and ready to carry out “rapid response exercises.” This particular exercise was designed to move troops quickly in case China suddenly turned one of its frequent exercises around the island into an attack. “All members of our armed forces will remain extremely vigilant and on full guard, taking concrete measures to defend the values of democracy and freedom,” it said in a statement.
Taiwan says it has detected 89 Chinese military planes and 28 boats near the island. Beijing today began live ammunition drills near Taiwan, which it said simulated a blockade of the island’s key ports, prompting Taipei to condemn what it called Chinese “military intimidation”.
