Date: December 30, 2025
Location: Taiwan Strait / Taipei / Beijing

China’s military is carrying out large-scale live-fire drills around Taiwan, demonstrating its ability to encircle the self-ruled island and simulate a blockade of key ports, in one of the most extensive shows of force in recent years.

The exercises, code-named “Justice Mission 2025,” began on December 29 and are continuing through today, involving coordinated operations by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) including naval vessels, combat aircraft, bombers, rocket units and amphibious assault ships in multiple zones surrounding Taiwan.

Chinese military units have fired rockets into the waters around Taiwan and staged long-range live-fire drills north and south of the island as part of simulated blockade operations. The PLA described the exercises as a demonstration of capability to deter “external interference” and to enforce a maritime and aerial blockade in the event of conflict.

Disruptions and Regional Impact

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported heightened PLA activity, with over 130 aircraft and more than a dozen ships detected around the island during the drills. The operations have led to cancellations and delays of flights in and out of the region, with some domestic routes between Taiwan and its outlying islands severely affected due to temporary airspace controls.

Taipei has deployed its own forces in response and condemned the exercises as “irresponsible and provocative,” urging Beijing to exercise restraint to avoid escalation. Taiwanese officials also noted that the sudden announcement and execution of the drills disrupted international flight schedules and raised safety concerns for civilian traffic.

Political and Strategic Context

China says the drills are intended as a warning to “Taiwan independence forces” and foreign countries it accuses of interfering in cross-strait affairs. The escalation follows recent U.S. approval of a substantial arms sale to Taiwan, which Beijing strongly opposes.

International responses have varied, with some regional partners emphasizing the importance of a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific, while Taipei has reiterated its resolve to defend its sovereignty without escalation.

What’s Next

The drills are expected to continue through December 30, with Chinese state media emphasizing it as a test of PLA joint combat readiness. Analysts say the scale and intensity of the exercises underscore Beijing’s growing anti-access and blockade capabilities, and signal a broader shift in military posture in the Taiwan Strait.