China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has initiated a massive, multi-branch military exercise titled "Justice Mission 2025" surrounding Taiwan. The drills, which involve army, naval, air force, and artillery units, are characterized by Beijing as a "serious warning" against separatist forces and external interference.
The Eastern Theatre Command has demarcated five restriction zones around the island. Exercises include live-fire drills, simulations of coordinated multi-directional attacks, and the deployment of fighter jets, bombers, and long-range rockets.
For the first time, China has publicly stated the drills focus on sealing off vital deep-water ports, specifically Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south, while practicing "deterrence" against outside military intervention.
The PLA released propaganda posters titled "Shields of Justice" and "Arrows of Justice," depicting civilian armadas for amphibious assaults and "flaming arrows" targeting "separatist forces" (caricatured as green bugs).
The maneuvers follow a record $11.1 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan and recent comments from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding a potential military response to a Chinese assault.
Taiwan’s government has condemned the provocations as "irresponsible" and destabilizing to regional peace. The island’s defense ministry has mobilized troops for "rapid response exercises" to counter any sudden transition from a drill to a full-scale assault. Despite the military tension, Taiwan’s stock market reached record highs on Monday, reflecting a public that remains largely undeterred by Beijing's "scare tactics."
Analysts warn that these exercises are increasingly blurring the line between routine training and actual invasion preparation, leaving the U.S. and its allies with minimal warning time should a conflict erupt.
