The Type 054A guided missile frigate Huaibei participates in the "Justice Mission 2025" joint military drills organized by the PLA Eastern Theater Command in waters around the island of Taiwan on December 29, 2025. Photo: VCG

Multiple forces of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) started drills code-named "Justice Mission 2025" around Taiwan Island on Monday, said Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command. 

According to Shi, the PLA Eastern Theater Command is dispatching its Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops to conduct drills in the Taiwan Straits and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan Island. He added that the latest operation is a stern warning against "Taiwan Independence" separatist forces and external interference, and a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity 

On Monday, multiple Chinese authorities resolutely endorsed and supported the PLA's military exercises.

Commenting on the drills, Chen Binhua, spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Monday that Taiwan is China's Taiwan. Any external forces that attempt to intervene in the Taiwan question or interfere in China's internal affairs will inevitably crash headlong into the steel wall of the PLA.

Asked whether the motivation behind the exercises is related to the US arms sale to Taiwan region and whether the US is the "external interference" mentioned by China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Monday that China's resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity is unwavering. Any egregious act of provocation and crossing of red lines on the Taiwan question will inevitably face resolute countermeasures from China.

'Strikes as soon as it commences'

Sketch map of the drill areas released by PLA Eastern Theater Command on December 29, 2025. Photo: WeChat account of PLA Eastern Threater Command

The drills started in the morning, with spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command Shi Yi introducing that the operation focuses on subjects of sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain. 

With vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services will engage in joint assaults so as to test their joint operations capabilities, Shi said.

Throughout the day, the PLA Eastern Theater Command released intensive updates on the drill dynamics, announcing combat readiness patrols surrounding Taiwan Island, strikes on mobile ground targets in the middle areas of the Taiwan Straits, live-fire training on maritime targets to the north and southwest of Taiwan Island, training of assault on maritime targets, seizure of regional air superiority and anti-sub operations to the east of Taiwan Island, drills on regional patrol, aerial confrontation and information support in airspace to the southwest of Taiwan Island, bomber task forces' far seas combat readiness patrols to the east of Taiwan Island, as well as drills on assault against maritime targets and long-distance raids to the Southeast of Taiwan Island.

On Monday, PLA Eastern Theater Command also released posters themed "Shield of Justice, Smashing Illusion" and "Arrow of Justice, Control and Denial", which, according to experts, conveyed a message of stern warning. 

In addition to the PLA, Zhu Anqing, spokesperson of the East Sea Bureau of the China Coast Guard (CCG) said that from Monday, the Fujian Coast Guard organized task forces to carry out comprehensive law enforcement patrols in the waters off Taiwan Island, the Matsu and Wuqiu Islands. 

Zhang Chi, a professor from the National Defense University told the Global Times on Monday that the defining feature and highlight of this exercise is that it "strikes as soon as it commences".

"Compared with the PLA's previous exercises in the Taiwan Straits, especially the series of drills conducted from 2022 to the first half of 2025, this exercise is vastly different. Past exercises usually followed a pattern of 'gradual escalation': troop deployments were first carried out, followed by a gradual escalation to live-fire drills. However, live-fire drills are scheduled to be organized shortly after the launch of this exercise. This demonstrates two key points: first, the participating PLA troops have further integrated the requirements of actual combat into every stage of the exercise - troops train as they would fight in real warfare; second, we have sent a stern deterrent signal that the PLA resolutely punishes the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and firmly opposes external interfering forces," Zhang said.

DPP root cause of tensions 

The latest drills have drawn intense attention within Taiwan island. "The Liberty Times" characterized the drills as a "sudden assault", while CNA noted that this marks the seventh PLA encirclement exercises around Taiwan island since the initial one launched in August 2022 in response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit.

CNA reported that the "external affairs" department on the island of Taiwan on Monday claimed that PLA's drills are "unprovoked military provocations" which "undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits"

However, during an interview with Taiwan-based BCC News on Monday morning, Cheng Li-wun, leader of the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT), sharply criticized Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te for what she described as continuous provocations and erroneous cross-Straits policies, warning that they are driving Taiwan toward the brink of war. 

The drills also came one day after the opening of the 2025 Shanghai-Taipei City Forum in Shanghai. Regarding this background, Chen Yu-jen, a KMT lawmaker in Kinmen, said on Monday that the PLA's drills are clearly targeting the Lai authorities, and the fact that the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum is being held almost simultaneously demonstrates that the mainland is leaving a window open for peaceful dialogue with those who are willing to communicate.

Shen Yi, a professor at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Monday that the KMT's understanding of the situation is more rational, factually pointing out the reality of the DPP and Lai's secessionism and provocations are the root cause of tensions. 

According to Shen, the DPP "knows full well that they have caused trouble," including but not limited to purchasing US arms and colluding with Japanese right-wing forces, but they are playing dumb, reframing the issue with distorted rhetoric in preparation for launching cognitive warfare. However, the vast majority of people on the island no longer buy the DPP's nonsense, the expert added. 

In an article titled "Chinese military stages drills around Taiwan to warn 'external forces' after US, Japan tensions," the Associated Press highlighted that the drills came after Beijing expressed anger at the US arms sales to Taiwan as well as Takaichi's Taiwan-related remarks. 

"The drills underscore how sensitive the Taiwan question is to Beijing," Bloomberg said. A senior analyst told Bloomberg that the PLA was signaling "the clear intent to enhance its troops' anti-access and area-denial capabilities, which sends a direct signal to the US and its allies, especially Japan, about Beijing's determination to block external interference in future contingency over Taiwan." 

The drills have made headlines on multiple Japanese media outlets as well. 

Japanese media Asahi Shimbun reported Monday that the drills are widely believed to be aimed at deterring US actions such as arms sales to the island of Taiwan, and to counter Takaichi's remarks regarding the so-called "Taiwan contingency" made during her parliamentary responses.

Jiji Press made similar comments on the drills. In addition, the Mainichi Shimbun added that the drills also send a deterrent message to the Lai Ching-te authorities on the island of Taiwan.

Global Times reporters found that in stark contrast to the extensive coverage by US and Japanese media, the governments in Washington and Tokyo remained relatively quiet. As of press time, which has been more than 15 hours since the PLA Eastern Theater Command announced the start of the drills, Global Times reporters have not seen any official response from Washington and Tokyo on the drills.

Shen said that in a rare shift, US and Japanese media have adopted a relatively rational tone compared to the past.

This change stems from shifts in the balance of power. "In subtle yet unequivocal terms, Japanese media are conveying the view that provoking an opponent one cannot defeat is an irrational act," Shen said.