Is China attacking Taiwan in its Justice Mission 2025, why are drills happening and what is Taiwan’s response?

China has unleashed expansive military maneuvers around Taiwan on December 29, 2025.This is being carried out with live-fire exercises simulating port blockades, maritime strikes, and repulsion of foreign forces, framing the operation as a direct rebuke to "separatist" activities and outside meddling. The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command deployed a multi-domain armada, marking a sharp escalation in cross-strait posturing amid global scrutiny.

Justice Mission 2025

Named Justice Mission 2025, the drills mobilized destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers, drones, and long-range missiles across vast zones north, northwest, and south of Taiwan, closer to the main island than typical exercises.

Naval and air units practiced rapid maneuvers, all-domain coordination, precise targeting of submarines and ships, and systemic blockades of key ports. Coast guard ships conducted "law enforcement" near outlying islands, while propaganda visuals depicted arrows piercing symbolic foes and fleeing foreign vessels, underscoring anti-intervention messaging.


People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command announced live-fire exercises in Taiwan's surrounding waters and airspace scheduled from 8 am to 6 pm Tuesday, issuing warnings for all vessels and aircraft to steer clear of the restricted zones, reported Focus Taiwan.

The operations span five precise areas based on provided coordinates: maritime and aerial spaces north of Keelung City, east of Taitung County, south of Pingtung County, southeast of Penghu County, and northwest of Taoyuan, enabling simulated encirclement maneuvers.

Beijing's rationale and warnings

PLA spokesperson Colonel Shi Yi described the action as a "stern warning" to Taiwan independence advocates and external interferers, essential for upholding sovereignty. The timing follows Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's vows for elite combat readiness by 2027, US approval of $11 billion in arms including tanks and drones, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's signal of potential military involvement in any invasion.

Beijing views these as provocations disrupting the status quo, accelerating its military buildup targeting invasion capability by 2027 per prior US assessments.

Taiwan's countermeasures

Taiwan's defense ministry swiftly condemned the drills as destabilizing aggression, scrambling jets, vessels, and missiles to shadow over PLA aircraft and warships.

It initiated counter-readiness patrols and dispatched “appropriate forces” to respond, stressing that defending democracy invites no blame. The coast guard highlighted risks to shipping and fishing.

The sixth major PLA operation since 2022, after April's Strait Thunder-2025A, these drills probe anti-access prowess publicly, amid spiraling Japan ties and Trump-Xi summit silence on Taiwan.

FAQs

How do blockades differ from full invasion drills?
Focus on port isolation, precision hits, and intervention denial hones gray-zone coercion, choking Taiwan's trade-dependent economy without boots on ground.

What provokes Beijing most here?
Lai's speeches, US weapons, and Japan's involvement signal eroding "one China" red lines, prompting shows of force to deter formal independence moves.