China's military launched large-scale exercises surrounding Taiwan from all directions on Wednesday, conducting live-fire drills as tensions escalate over Taiwan's major arms purchases from the United States.
The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command announced via social media that it would conduct the "Justice Mission-2025" exercise in the Taiwan Strait and waters north, southwest, southeast, and east of Taiwan, mobilizing army, navy, air force, and rocket force units, according to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency.
"The drills focus on sea and air combat readiness patrols, seizing comprehensive control, blockading key ports and areas, and conducting three-dimensional interception of outer regions," Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Shi Yi said. "The purpose is to verify the theater command's joint combat capabilities through ships and aircraft approaching Taiwan Island from multiple directions with multi-service joint assault operations."
The Eastern Theater Command also announced it would conduct "important military exercises" including live-fire drills in five designated sea and air zones surrounding Taiwan from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, releasing coordinates for the five areas.
"This is a serious warning to Taiwan independence separatist forces and external interference forces," Shi said. "It is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and national unity."
China's military has repeatedly conducted "Taiwan encirclement" exercises in response to statements by Taiwan's president or exchanges with the United States and other countries.
Last year, China held the "Sharp Sword-2024A" exercise in May and "Sharp Sword-2024B" in October. In early April this year, following Taiwan's president designating China as a "hostile force" and launching efforts to root out spies, China conducted the "Strait Thunder-2025A" exercise.
In August 2022, China conducted Taiwan encirclement drills after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. In April 2023, China staged three days of intensive military demonstrations surrounding Taiwan from all sides following a meeting between then-President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
