BEIJING / TAIPEI – In a significant escalation of cross-strait tensions, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched a massive, multi-branch military exercise on Monday code-named “Justice Mission 2025.” The drills, which involve a coordinated display of naval, air, and rocket forces, are designed to simulate a full-scale blockade of Taiwan’s primary maritime gateways.
A “Stern Warning” to the West
The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command announced that the exercises are a “stern warning” against what Beijing describes as “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and “external interference.”
The timing is not coincidental. The drills come just 11 days after the United States announced a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taipei—the largest in history. Beijing has also pointed to recent comments from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could warrant a military response from Tokyo.
Key Tactical Objectives
Unlike previous “gray zone” maneuvers, Justice Mission 2025 is explicit in its intent to practice seizing control of the island’s lifelines. According to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the operation focuses on:
- Port Blockades: Simulating the sealing of major hubs, including Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south.
- Sea-Air Superiority: Testing “joint target hunting” and the neutralization of maritime targets using destroyers, frigates, and bombers.
- All-Dimensional Deterrence: Utilizing the Rocket Force to demonstrate capabilities “outside the island chain” to deter international intervention.
Taiwan and International Response
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has condemned the maneuvers as an “irrational provocation” and has placed its forces on high alert. By Monday afternoon, Taipei reported detecting 89 Chinese aircraft and 28 naval vessels, with dozens crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
”Defending democracy and freedom is no provocation,” a spokesperson for the Taiwanese Presidential Office stated. “The existence of the Republic of China is not an excuse for aggressors to disrupt the status quo.”
The drills have already begun to impact civilian logistics, with Taiwan’s transport ministry warning that diverted flight paths could affect over 100,000 international passengers.
What’s Next?
The PLA has released a map of five “danger zones” surrounding the island, where live-fire activities are scheduled to continue through Tuesday. International observers are closely monitoring whether this exercise signals a “new normal” where the line between routine training and a genuine blockade becomes increasingly blurred.