Station HYPO

By Dzirhan Mahadzir
December 29, 2025 12:19 PM

Chinese military units kicked off a massive series of drills surrounding Taiwan that simulate a blockade of the island in protest of U.S. arms sales to Taipei.

The People’s Liberation Army said the Justice Mission 2025 exercise are a warning against external interference and Taiwan independence forces. A statement released on the PLA’s official social media account China Military Bugle on X, stated that the drills were in response to the recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan totaling $11.1 billion, which was announced on December 18.

Starting on Monday, the PLA Eastern Theater Command is dispatching its Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops to conduct the “Justice Mission 2025” joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan with ships and aircraft approaching closely to Taiwan from different directions and troops from the different services engaging in joint strike training to test their joint operations capability, said PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Snr. Col Shi Yi.

“It is a stern warning against ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity,” said Shi.

The drills will focus on sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as deterrence outside the island chain, In a statement posted on the China Military Bugle account on X, the PLA stated that that the drills are part of a series of Beijing’s responses to the US arms sales to Taiwan as well as a warning to the Lai Ching-te government. Beijing had earlier on Friday sanctioned 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 defense company heads for the arms sale.

The statement criticized Washington for stating it does not support Taiwan independence and adheres to the one China policy but at the same time provides Taiwan with arms, calling the sales blatant interference in China’s internal affairs and an open challenge to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Every U.S. arms sale to Taiwan will only strengthen the Chinese people’s resolve to maintain national unity, and each arms sale will urge the PLA to improve its combat readiness, pushing ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists closer to their ultimate demise,” reads the release which called on the U.S. to fulfil its commitment not to support Taiwan independence and immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan.

The PLA released images, videos and graphics related to the drills. A video by the Eastern Theatre Command on the drills showed People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) destroyer CNS Xi’an (153) and frigates CNS Huaibei (516), CNS Baoji (534) and CNS Yixing (537) participating in the drills.

As with past drills around Taiwan, the China Coast Guard (CCG) has simultaneously conducted maritime enforcement patrols around Taiwan along with the Taiwan-held Matsu Islands and Wuqiu Islands off the coast of China. This is the second time this year that the PLA has conducted drills around Taiwan, with “Strait Thunder 2025A” being carried out in April which saw the Shandong Carrier Strike Group (CSG) participating. The PLA has not disclosed any participation of its carriers in the ‘Justice Mission 2025 drills’ at the time of writing.

Subsequently, the Easter Theater Command announced that on Tuesday, it would conduct activities in five designated areas around Taiwan, which included live firing activities, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m..

“For the sake of safety, any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter into the afore-mentioned waters and airspace.”, read the announcement.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation however, in a Monday release, stated that the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) at 7:30 a.m. that day saying that from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, seven temporary danger zones will be established around the Taiwan Strait for live firing.

The release stated that a number of international and domestic flights to Taiwan would be affected as a result and the Ministry of Transportation condemned the action, saying that International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations required at least a week’s advance notice along with prior communication and coordination with the affected Flight Information Region (FIR), “ China’s unilateral announcement only one day prior to the announcement is a serious violation of international norms and flight practices; such large-scale interference with international air routes and regional airspace use disregards flight safety and the rights of the general public,” reads the release.

This is not the first time this year that the Chinese military has conducted live firing activities at short notice resulting in disruption to civil aviation, a PLAN task group in February disrupted flights between Australia and New Zealand over the Tasman Sea when it announced at the last minute that live firing drills will be conducted.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) condemned the drills, “We strongly condemn the PRC’s irrational provocations and oppose the PLA’s actions that undermine regional peace. Rapid Response Exercises are underway, with forces on high alert to defend the Republic of China and protect our people.”, stated the MND in a post on X. The MND also released a video on X showing the Taiwan military deploying in response to the drills, which included PLAN frigate CNS Anyang (599) being observed by a Republic of China Navy (ROCN) warship.

In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Lieutenant General Hsieh Jih-sheng, Deputy Director of the Intelligence Bureau of the MND stated that as of 3 p.m., there were 89 sorties of aircraft and drones, of which 67 sorties entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) while 14 PLAN ships and 14 CCG ships were operating around Taiwan including the Matsu Islands and Wuqiu Islands, as well as a 4-ship amphibious task group in the Western Pacific.

The four-ship amphibious task group is likely the one comprising of cruiser CNS Yan’an (106), a Type 054/054A frigate, amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan (31) and fleet oiler CNS Luomahu (907) that Australia was tracking in early December. In a television interview on ABC Breakfast on Dec, 23, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles stated that Australia was monitoring the task group but it was not in the vicinity of Australia at the moment.

Featured image: PLA image

Source: news.usni.org