Rockets launched from long-range modularized rocket systems hit target in the waters to the north of the Taiwan island during live fire drills on December 30, 2025. Photo: VCG

The "Justice Mission 2025" joint military drills continued into the second day on Tuesday. 

On Tuesday the PLA Eastern Theater Command deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters and bombers to conduct drills on subjects of identification and verification, warning and expulsion, simulated strikes, assault on maritime targets, as well as anti-air and anti-submarine operations in the waters to the north and south of Taiwan island. The drills tested the capabilities of sea-air coordination and integrated blockade and control, according to a statement released by the Eastern Theater Command.

According to Li Xi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, at 9 am, the ground forces of the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted long-range live fire drills in the waters to the north of Taiwan island. And at 1 pm the ground forces of the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized live fire training, while conducting simulated long-range joint strike with units of the Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force in the waters to the south of the Taiwan Island. Both drills achieved desired effects. 

In response to media inquiries over the US leader's claim that the drills do not worry him, seeing them as continuation of China's previous military exercises, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The military drills by the PLA are a punitive and deterrent action against separatist forces who seek 'Taiwan independence' through military buildup, and a necessary move to safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity."



All rockets hit targets

A video released by the PLA Eastern Theater Command showed that long-range modularized rocket systems conducted live-fire shooting exercises in the morning. All rockets hit their targets, according to the video.

In the afternoon at around 3:30 pm, the PLA Eastern Theater Command announced that it had dispatched task forces comprised of amphibious assault ships, destroyers, frigates and unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct drills in the waters to the east of Taiwan island, focusing on subjects of all-dimensional force projection, breaching and raid by elite forces, as well as seizure of key ports. The drills tested capabilities of task force coordination, systemic operations and precision strikes on key targets.

National Defense University professor Zhang Chi told the Global Times on Tuesday that the biggest feature of this exercise is the integrated linkage between inner and outer lines, with forces and firepower maximizing distant control over the enemy.

He said that in terms of timing, this exercise combines blockaded drills and strikes. The exercises on Monday focused mainly on blockading, emphasizing the shaping of a joint encirclement of the island and multidimensional isolation. Participating troops practiced approaching Taiwan island from multiple directions and seizing control of sea and air dominance in key areas. The exercises on Tuesday focused mainly on strikes, emphasizing live-fire attacks to reinforce the blockade, which is the centerpiece of the exercises.

In terms of spatial arrangement, this exercise integrates inner and outer operations, with three orientations worth noting. First is nearshore. China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels conducted comprehensive law enforcement patrols in waters near Matsu and Wuqiu islands. Second is Taiwan island. Participating troops continued to press in and blockade Taiwan island, particularly overseeing and deterring key passages and areas around it. Third is east of Taiwan island. Participating troops conducted exercises in sea and air spaces east of Taiwan island on subjects such as strikes against maritime targets, regional air superiority, submarine search and anti-submarine operations. Bomber formations coordinated with amphibious assault ship formations in ship-aircraft synergy, conducting exercises on strikes against sea targets and long-range raids, Zhang noted.

"Through this series of exercises, we have demonstrated our strong capability to seize comprehensive control of the Taiwan Straits, forming a powerful deterrent against 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and external interfering forces," Zhang said.

Also on Tuesday, the CCG continued to organize task forces to carry out comprehensive law enforcement patrols in the waters off Taiwan island and the Matsu and Wuqiu islands. The CCG, in conjunction with the Global Times, released the "Throat-choking" poster, demonstrating the CCG's capability to control key maritime areas and seize dangerous targets.



Powerful deterrent

Taiwan-based media have been closely monitoring the Chinese mainland's exercises. In multiple reports, they have noted the details in the poster that depict the CCG intercepting a Taiwan cargo vessel carrying HIMARS rocket launchers, and have also paid attention to the new advanced weaponry deployed by the mainland this time. 

As the PLA Eastern Theater Command released a video with view of Taipei 101 during military drills on Monday, a prophecy made by Su Chi, former head of the Taiwan authorities' so-called "national security council," from a year ago has been dug up again by netizens and is sparking heated discussions online.

In a political program on TVBS in December 2024, Su claimed that his most feared scenario is mainland military aircraft flying over Taiwan airspace. He said that if PLA aircraft conduct a night flight over Taiwan and take a photo of the Taipei 101 building, Taiwan would be utterly incapable of stopping it.

Citing data from Taiwan's local civil aviation department, the udn.com reported on Tuesday that the PLA military exercise zones have effectively blockaded nearly all of Taiwan island, with 941 flights affected on Monday.

Lu Shiow-yen, a KMT politician who serves as mayor of Taichung City, on Tuesday urged Lai Ching-te to prioritize the people's well-being and peace, and to swiftly resolve the cross-Straits impasse rather than continuing with confrontation, according to udn.com. The media outlet noted that the latest PLA drills mark the fourth of their kind since Lai took office. 

According to a poll released by pro-DPP media outlet my-formosa.com on the island on Monday, Taiwan residents' public dissatisfaction with Lai Ching-te has exceeded 50 percent for six consecutive months, with 52.2 percent of respondents expressing dissatisfaction in the December poll. Additionally, 48.3 percent of respondents expressed distrust toward Lai, the China Times reported. 

Multiple major Japanese media outlets continued to follow the second day of the drills closely. Nikkei Shimbun claimed on Tuesday that the drills' aim is to deter the Lai authorities and prevent intervention by Japan and the US in a potential "Taiwan contingency."

NHK and Jiji Press said the live-fire exercise is seen as aiming to restrain and intensify pressure on the Lai authorities.

Jiji Press also highlighted that on the second day of the drills, live-fire shooting was conducted from mainland coastal areas, with rounds impacting northern waters off Taiwan island and other areas. The report claimed that the northern side faces directly offshore from Taipei, where Lai works, intensifying pressure on the Lai authorities. 

Japan News reported on Tuesday that a senior Defense Ministry official claimed on Monday that Japan would stay vigilant and keep a close watch on the situation. 

When asked for comment on the drills by CBS News, the Pentagon said it has "nothing to offer on that." CBS News has also reached out to the White House for comment.

Reuters on Tuesday cited Lyle Goldstein, Asia program director at US-based think tank Defense Priorities, as saying that mainland "not only has vast numerical superiority, it now has qualitative superiority across the board in weaponry and probably in training as well." 

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Monday that the seen from reaction of Washington and Tokyo, the administrations of the US and Japan are just keen on using the Taiwan authorities as a strategic pawn, stirring instability and crisis in the region to profit from it, yet they would unhesitatingly abandon this pawn the moment real conflict erupts.

The US and Japanese governments are fully aware that, with their current military capabilities, achieving a clear military victory in Taiwan Straits against the Chinese mainland today, is unrealistic, Li Haidong added. 

Taiwan-based media noted that amid the PLA drills, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, met with nearly 200 representatives from the Taiwan business community. 

Song said that the motherland firmly grasps the dominance and initiative in cross-Straits relations, resolutely promotes the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and relentlessly advances the great cause of national reunification. Song also called Taiwan business community to firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" secession and external interference, according to udn.com. 

"From the mainland's actions, it can be seen that this military exercise is precisely targeted at 'Taiwan independence' secessionists," Li Haidong said, adding that the mainland has consistently adopted an open and inclusive stance toward forces that support reunification and promote cross-Straits integrated development. 

The expert added that in its policy toward Taiwan, the mainland has demonstrated a clear trend of "being tougher on the tough" and "softer on the soft." With this responsible approach, the mainland is promoting reunification in a manner that minimizes costs and maximizes benefits for both sides of the Straits.