Key Points:
- Chinese PLA launched “Justice Mission 2025” joint military exercise around Taiwan
- Xi Jinping declared Taiwan reunification is historically inevitable and will happen at any cost
- Taiwan activated emergency maritime response center and maintains emergency security measures
- Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te vowed to defend sovereignty and democracy
- Exercise comes 11 days after $11.1 billion US-Taiwan arms deal
- China stated exercise aims to prevent external intervention
- Largest military exercise around Taiwan since 2022 with live-fire drills
Tensions between China and Taiwan have once again reached a critical point as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched a large-scale joint military exercise, “Justice Mission 2025,” in the waters and airspace around Taiwan. The exercise involved the deployment of army, air force, navy, and artillery units, along with extensive live-fire drills that have put the entire region on edge.
On New Year’s Day, Chinese President Xi Jinping adopted a very tough stance on Taiwan in his annual address to the nation. He clearly stated that Taiwan will be reunified with China at any cost, and that nothing can stop this process. Xi emphasized that the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are bound by the same blood and culture, and that the reunification of the motherland is historically inevitable. Following Xi’s strongly worded statement, security agencies in Taiwan have been placed on high alert, with all military and coast guard assets mobilized to monitor Chinese activities.
Response Center Fully Active
The Taiwanese Coast Guard stated that its emergency maritime response center is fully active and is closely monitoring all activities of the Chinese navy in the vicinity of Taiwan’s waters. Taiwan’s Defense Minister announced that the military’s emergency security measures will remain in place as long as Chinese aircraft and warships are present in the region. The continuous presence of Chinese military assets has forced Taiwan to maintain its highest state of readiness, with fighter jets scrambled repeatedly to intercept Chinese aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te also gave a strong response to China. In his live address from the Presidential Office in Taipei on New Year’s Day, he said that Taiwan is fully committed to defending its sovereignty and strengthening its security. President Lai declared that the international community is watching how determined the people of Taiwan are to defend their democracy and security, sending a clear message that Taiwan will not back down in the face of Chinese aggression.
China Angered by Deal with the US
Experts believe that this military exercise comes at a time when Taiwan and the United States recently concluded a record-breaking $11.1 billion arms deal. This military display by China, just 11 days after the announcement of the deal, reflects its growing frustration with what it perceives as American interference in its internal affairs. The timing of “Justice Mission 2025” appears deliberately chosen to send a strong signal to both Taipei and Washington about Beijing’s resolve on the Taiwan issue.
During “Justice Mission 2025,” the Chinese military explicitly stated for the first time that the purpose of the exercise is to prevent external intervention in what China considers its internal matter. The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, which oversees operations around Taiwan, announced that the drills would test joint combat capabilities and demonstrate China’s ability to control the situation in the Taiwan Strait. The exercise includes simulated blockades, amphibious landing operations, and precision strikes against key targets.
Regional Tensions Could Escalate
Furthermore, Xi Jinping also made statements regarding Hong Kong and Macau in his New Year’s address. He said that the “one country, two systems” policy should be fully implemented and that both special administrative regions should be better integrated into China’s overall development. This broader framing suggests Xi is consolidating his vision for all territories Beijing claims as its own, including Taiwan.
Notably, this is considered China’s largest military exercise around Taiwan since 2022, when Beijing responded to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei with massive drills that effectively blockaded the island for several days. The live-fire drills, deployment of warships, and indications of a potential blockade suggest that regional tensions could escalate further in the coming days. Military analysts warn that the increased frequency and scale of these exercises normalize a Chinese military presence around Taiwan, potentially creating pretexts for future aggressive actions or even an invasion.
