China began its largest-ever military drills around Taiwan on Monday, deploying ships, aircraft and artillery in exercises dubbed “Justice Mission 2025.” The maneuvers, led by the Eastern Theatre Command, include live-fire drills and simulated strikes, with seven restricted sea and air zones encircling the island — the widest coverage to date and closer to Taiwan than previous operations.
Beijing said the exercises are aimed at demonstrating its ability to blockade Taiwan’s key ports, including Keelung and Kaohsiung, and cut the island off from outside support. The drills have disrupted travel, with more than 100,000 international airline passengers affected and dozens of domestic flights cancelled.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported 89 Chinese military aircraft and multiple naval and coast guard vessels operating nearby, with some confrontations occurring close to its 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone. Taipei condemned the drills as military intimidation and placed its forces on high alert, conducting rapid-response preparations. Taiwan maintains that only its people can determine the island’s future, rejecting Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
The exercises follow a recent $11.1 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, the largest ever for the island, which drew sharp criticism from China. President Donald Trump downplayed the threat, citing his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and saying he was not concerned about the drills.
Analysts say China’s increasingly frequent and expansive exercises blur the line between routine training and potential preparations for conflict, sending what observers describe as a strong warning against foreign involvement in Taiwan.
Source: Reuters
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