In a significant escalation of regional tensions, China has initiated comprehensive military maneuvers encircling Taiwan, deploying combined forces from its army, navy, air, and rocket divisions. The extensive two-day exercises, officially designated “Justice Mission-2025,” commenced on December 30, 2025, featuring live-fire artillery drills and precision rocket launches that reportedly landed in closer proximity to Taiwanese territory than previous operations.
The provocative military demonstration comes as a direct response to Washington’s recent authorization of an $11.1 billion defensive arms package to Taipei, including advanced HIMARS rocket systems and surveillance drones. Chinese authorities characterized the drills as a necessary warning against what they term ‘Taiwan independence separatist activities’ and foreign interference in China’s internal affairs.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported tracking approximately 130 Chinese military aircraft and 22 naval vessels throughout the operation, with an unprecedented 90 warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese armed forces responded with heightened alert status, scrambling fighter jets, deploying naval patrols, and activating coastal missile defense systems.
The exercises generated substantial disruption to civilian air traffic, compelling the cancellation of dozens of commercial flights and affecting over 6,000 travelers. Military analysts observed that the complexity and scale of the drills appear designed to simulate effective blockade scenarios, potentially signaling China’s evolving strategy to deter foreign military intervention in the Taiwan Strait.
International reaction emerged promptly, with Belize’s foreign ministry issuing a formal condemnation of China’s ‘military intimidation’ against Taiwan, emphasizing the undermining of peaceful dialogue and stability in the region. The United States and Taiwanese officials have reiterated the legitimacy of defensive arms agreements and the right to self-defense under international norms.