According to the agency's information, the exercises lasted about ten hours: missiles were launched in waters located both to the north and south of Taiwan. The naval and air force units of the People's Liberation Army of China practiced actions to strike maritime and aerial targets, as well as conducted anti-submarine operations near the island. State media emphasized China's technological and military achievements.
The exercises, dubbed "Mission Justice - 2025," began just 11 days after the U.S. announced a record military aid package to Taiwan worth $11.1 billion. Representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Defense noted that "decisive measures" would be taken in response, emphasizing that the maneuvers were aimed at deterring external interference.
"Any interference by external forces in Taiwan's affairs or China's internal issues will lead to serious consequences," stated the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese government.
Preliminary estimates suggest that these exercises were the sixth major round of military maneuvers since 2022, distinguished by their extensive area and proximity to Taiwan. The maneuvers involved naval, air, ground, and missile forces. The Chinese military command characterized these exercises as a "serious warning" to supporters of "Taiwan independence" and external players.
On December 29, China also announced unscheduled exercises with live-fire drills in five maritime areas around Taiwan and in the adjacent airspace, which was a response to the island's purchases of American weapons.
