China fired missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets and navy vessels around Taiwan for a second straight day of live-fire drills designed to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island’s key ports and strikes on maritime targets, Taiwan’s government said. The exercises, code-named “Justice Mission 2025,” drew condemnation from Taipei as “highly provocative and reckless.”
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te issued his “strongest condemnation,” accusing Beijing of “deliberately undermining regional stability through military intimidation.” China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to seize the island democracy.
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China’s People’s Liberation Army said it conducted long-range live-fire drills in waters north of Taiwan and “achieved desired effects.” State broadcaster CCTV said a core theme was a blockade of key Taiwanese ports, including Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south. Chinese authorities published a map of five large exercise zones encircling Taiwan; some lie within 12 nautical miles of the island’s coast, according to Taipei, disrupting international shipping and aviation routes.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it detected 130 Chinese military aircraft in a 24-hour period near the island, along with 14 navy ships and eight other government vessels. Taiwan’s coast guard said it deployed 14 ships for one-to-one shadowing to deter Chinese vessels. The Civil Aviation Administration reported dozens of flights to the offshore Kinmen and Matsu islands were canceled.
On China’s side of the strait, AFP journalists on Pingtan—mainland China’s closest point to Taiwan’s main island—saw at least 10 rockets launched in quick succession, each leaving white smoke trails and booming across the shoreline. Tourists crowded wooden barricades to film the launches with their phones.
Beijing said it mobilized destroyers, frigates, fighters and bombers for “identification and verification, warning and expulsion, simulated strikes, assault on maritime targets, as well as anti-air and anti-submarine operations.” The drills follow a fresh round of U.S. arms sales to Taipei—Taiwan’s main security backer—and recent comments by Japan’s prime minister that the use of force against Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi warned Beijing would “forcefully counter” large-scale U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, adding that efforts to block China’s unification with the island would “inevitably end in failure.” Lai, in a Facebook post, said Taiwan would not “escalate the conflict” or provoke disputes.
On the streets of Taipei, many residents reacted with calm. “There have been so many drills like this over the years that we are used to it,” said Chiang Sheng-ming, a 24-year-old fishmonger in Beitou. “If you stand your ground, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” said fruit seller Tseng Chang-chih, 80. “War? Impossible. It’s just posturing. If they really attacked Taiwan, they would have to pay a price.”
China last staged large-scale live-fire exercises around Taiwan in April, maneuvers that Taiwan denounced at the time. Beijing has pledged “resolute and forceful measures” after Washington approved what Taipei said was an $11 billion arms package. Asked about the latest drills, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was not concerned. “I don’t believe he’s going to be doing it,” Trump said, referring to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
