On Monday, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) kicked off “Justice Mission 2025” around Taiwan. This involves live-fire military drills simulating a blockade of the island, which Beijing refers to as a warning against separatist movements.
As noted, Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, stated that the focus of the training will be on themes such as “sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint operational superiority, and blockade strategies.” They’re also looking at deterrence measures in the areas surrounding Taiwan.
Shi mentioned that multiple military units are engaging in joint operations approaching Taiwan from various angles, which he characterized as a stern warning against Taiwanese separatist forces and outside interference. He emphasized this was a legitimate measure to safeguard China’s sovereignty and unity.
The Chinese Communist Party adheres to a policy known as the “one China principle,” claiming Taiwan—an independent nation—as part of its territory.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense wasted no time in denouncing these actions, labeling them “irrational provocations” that threaten regional stability. They stated, “To protect the Republic of China and its citizens, Taiwan’s military is on high alert, and rapid response exercises are currently taking place,” something they shared via social media.
The Taiwanese Ministry also released a dual-language video with a message: “Security cannot be based on illusions, nor can it be decided by others. We choose to prepare to protect ourselves.”
Additionally, the PLA posted two military exercise posters on Chinese social platforms recently. The first is reportedly titled “Shield of Justice, Breaking Illusions,” illustrating a giant shield preventing military assets from reaching Taiwan. The second is named “Arrows of Justice, Control, and Denial,” which boasts of “three-dimensional precision firepower” aimed at warding off what they refer to as separatists.
This current drill marks the sixth large-scale military exercise by the PLA since 2022, happening notably shortly after the U.S. approved an $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan. This includes systems like HIMARS rockets, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, and drones.
According to the South China Morning Post, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, warned against external forces using Taiwan to contain China, arguing it strengthens separatists and escalates risks in the Taiwan Strait.
In a related query by an NHK reporter regarding “external interfering forces,” which the military cited as a training objective, Hayashi responded, stating that any provocation crossing the line on Taiwan would trigger decisive countermeasures from China.
