Chinese military drills around Taiwan resume for a second day, aimed at
warning 'external forces'
[December 30, 2025]
By KANIS LEUNG
HONG KONG (AP) — For a second day, China's military on Tuesday
dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills
around the island of Taiwan, which Beijing called a “stern warning”
against separatist and “external interference” forces. Taiwan said it
was placing forces on alert and called the Chinese government “the
biggest destroyer of peace.”
Taiwan’s aviation authority said more than 100,000 international air
travelers would be affected by flight cancellations or diversions.
The two days of drills — dubbed “Justice Mission 2025” — came after
Beijing expressed outrage at what could be the largest-ever U.S. arms
sale to the self-ruled territory, and at a statement by Japan’s prime
minister, Sanae Takaichi, saying its military could get involved if
China takes action against Taiwan. China says Taiwan must come under its
rule.
China's military did not mention the United States and Japan in its
statement on Monday, but Beijing's foreign ministry accused Taiwan's
ruling party of trying to seek independence through requesting U.S.
support. And on Tuesday morning, the official Xinhua News Agency quoted
a government spokesperson saying that any efforts to that end would be
“doomed.”
“We urge relevant countries to abandon the illusion of using Taiwan to
contain China, and to refrain from challenging China’s resolve in
safeguarding its core interests,” said Zhang Xiaogang of China's Defense
Ministry.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said rapid response exercises were underway,
with forces on high alert. “The Chinese Communist Party’s targeted
military exercises further confirm its nature as an aggressor and the
biggest destroyer of peace,” it said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he was not informed of the
military exercise in advance but that he was not worried because China
has been “doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area.” Touting his
“great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump suggested
he didn't think Xi was going to attack Taiwan.
Drills are not uncommon
Beijing sends warplanes and navy vessels toward the island on a
near-daily basis, and in recent years it has stepped up the scope and
scale of the exercises.
Senior Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson of China's People's Liberation Army's
Eastern Theater Command, said the drills would be conducted in the
Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of
the island.
Shi said activities would focus on sea-air combat readiness patrol,
“joint seizure of comprehensive superiority” and blockades on key ports.
It was the first large-scale military drill where the command publicly
mentioned one goal was “all-dimensional deterrence outside the island
chain."
“It is a stern warning against ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces
and external interference forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary
action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity,” Shi said.
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when a civil
war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing. Defeated
Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan. The island has operated since
then with its own government, though the mainland’s government claims it
as sovereign territory.
Capabilities are tested
China's command on Monday deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters,
bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles, alongside long-range rockets, to
the north and southwest of the Taiwan Strait. It carried out live-fire
exercises against targets in the waters. Among other training, drills to
test the capabilities of sea-air coordination and precise target hunting
were conducted in the waters and airspace to the east of the strait.
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In this image taken off video, Sun Li-fang, Taiwan Defense Ministry
spokesperson speaks about China's latest military drills during a
press conference in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP
Photo/Wu Taijing)
Hsieh Jih-sheng, deputy chief of the general staff for intelligence
of the Taiwanese Defense Ministry, said that as of 3 p.m. Monday, 89
aircraft and drones were operating around the strait, with 67 of
them entering the “response zone" — airspace under the force's
monitoring and response. The ministry detected 14 navy ships around
the strait and four other warships in the Western Pacific, in
addition to 14 coast guard vessels.
“Conducting live-fire exercises around the Taiwan Strait ... does
not only mean military pressure on us. It may bring more complex
impact and challenges to the international community and neighboring
countries,” Hsieh told reporters.
Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration said Chinese authorities had
issued a notice saying seven temporary dangerous zones would be set
up around the strait to carry out rocket-firing exercises from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m., barring aircraft from entering them.
The Taiwanese aviation authority said more than 850 international
flights were initially scheduled during that period and the drills
would affect over 100,000 travelers. Over 80 domestic flights,
involving around 6,000 passengers, were also canceled, it added.
Commercial airlines began to announce dozens of cancellations and
delays for domestic routes across Taiwan, particularly ones along
islands near China.
The Chinese command released themed posters about the drills online
accompanied by provocative wording. One depicted two shields with
the Great Wall alongside three military aircraft and two ships. Its
social media post said the drills were about the “Shield of Justice,
Smashing Illusion," adding that any foreign interlopers or
separatists touching the shields would be eliminated.
Last week, Beijing imposed sanctions against 20 U.S. defense-related
companies and 10 executives, a week after Washington announced
large-scale arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion. It
still requires approval by the U.S. Congress.
Under U.S. federal law in place for many years, Washington is
obligated to assist Taipei with its defense, a point that has become
increasingly contentious with China. The U.S. and Taiwan had formal
diplomatic relations until 1979, when President Jimmy Carter’s
administration recognized and established relations with Beijing.
Taiwanese army on high alert
Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the Taiwanese president's office, said
the drills were undermining the stability and security of the Taiwan
Strait and Indo-Pacific region and openly challenging international
law and order.
“Our country strongly condemns the Chinese authorities for
disregarding international norms and using military intimidation to
threaten neighboring countries.” she said.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry released a video that featured its weapons
and forces in a show of resilience. Multiple French Mirage-2000
aircraft conducted landings at an air force base.
In October, the Taiwanese government said it would accelerate the
building of a “Taiwan Shield” or “T-Dome” air defense system in the
face of the military threat from China.
The military tensions came a day after Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an
said he hoped the Taiwan Strait would be associated with peace and
prosperity, instead of “crashing waves and howling winds," during a
trip to Shanghai.
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