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

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Monday launched large-scale joint military drills around Taiwan Island under the codename "Justice Mission 2025." The drills are 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. In terms of the scale, subjects and combat orientation of the exercises, the PLA has conveyed three clear messages through concrete actions.

First, the red line of sovereignty cannot be crossed, and any provocations will surely be met with resolute countermeasures from China. The direct trigger for the drills was the continued collusion between "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external elements, who have repeatedly crossed red lines on the Taiwan question, seeking to embolden "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, intensifying cross-Straits confrontation, undermining China's sovereignty and security, and damaging peace and stability in the straits. 

The PLA's response has been resolute. The exercises were conducted in the waters to the north, southwest, southeast, and east of the island. The drills focused on subjects of sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas - directly targeting the vulnerabilities of "Taiwan independence" forces. This model of all-directional deployment and multi-domain coordination demonstrates the PLA's capability to impose comprehensive, high-intensity military control over Taiwan.

The "Justice Mission 2025" exercises further underscore the PLA's unwavering resolve to respond to provocations with action and defend sovereignty with strength.

Second, mature regional anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities have made the cost of external intervention unaffordable. Another highlight of the exercises was the PLA's comprehensive demonstration of its A2/AD capabilities. 

The PLA has built an A2/AD system centered on aircraft carrier strike groups, hypersonic missiles, and unmanned systems. The Shandong carrier battle group possesses robust open-sea combat capabilities. From the YJ-21 hypersonic missile to the intelligent coordination between drone swarms and satellite navigation systems, the combined deployment of these assets has enabled the PLA to develop a combat capability in the Taiwan Straits theater that integrates offensive and defensive operations with deterrence and interdiction. The latest wargaming by the Center for Strategic and International Studies reveals that if the US military intervenes in a conflict in the Straits, it would lose hundreds of aircraft and dozens of warships at higher escalation levels. 

Third, the trend toward national reunification is irreversible, and attempts to "resist reunification through military buildup" are doomed to fail. The Lai Ching-te authorities' reckless pandering to external forces and their frantic pursuit of "independence" through provocations are the root causes of instability and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Straits. The profound significance of the exercises lies in declaring to the world that the island of Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and reunification is a historical inevitability that cannot be obstructed.

From the perspective of public sentiment on the island of Taiwan, patience for "Taiwan independence" among local residents is wearing thin. From the perspective of the power comparison, the PLA has established absolute superiority over the island of Taiwan. Moreover, the mainland's economic countermeasures have become increasingly precise. This combination of measures is steadily shrinking the space for "Taiwan independence" forces to maneuver.

The international community is also increasingly recognizing the inevitable trend of China's national reunification. Although the European Parliament passed a report on relations with Taiwan in 2021, sending a wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" forces, EU member states remain deeply divided on this matter. Meanwhile, the US has adopted a "strategic retreat" on the Taiwan question, reflecting the gap between its desire and ability to intervene. History will ultimately prove that any act defying the historical tide is doomed to failure.

Reunification is the core interest of the Chinese nation and an irreversible historical process. The "Justice Mission 2025" exercises serve as a solemn warning from the PLA to "Taiwan Independence" separatist and external interference forces. We solemnly warn those obstinate separatist forces on the island that "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace across the Taiwan Straits and external forces that indulge and support "Taiwan independence" will only invite disaster upon themselves. The PLA has the confidence and capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity and to achieve the complete reunification of the motherland.


The author is a scholar at the College of Military Culture at the National Defense University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn