China launches ‘Justice Mission 2025’ drills around Taiwan amid rising regional tensions

TAIWAN: China’s military began a new round of large-scale exercises around Taiwan on 29 December 2025, deploying army, naval, air force and rocket force units in what it described as a “stern warning” against moves toward Taiwanese independence.

According to a statement on the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command official WeChat account, the drills are named “Justice Mission 2025 (正义使命-2025)” and are designed to test combat readiness and joint operational capabilities.

The statement said the exercises would include live-fire drills on Tuesday, accompanied by sea and airspace restrictions across five zones surrounding Taiwan for a period of 10 hours from 8.30am.

A graphic released alongside the announcement showed the restricted areas encircling the island, underlining the scale and coordination of the operation, which involves multiple branches of the PLA acting in concert.

This marks China’s sixth major round of military exercises around Taiwan since 2022, when then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governed island, prompting unprecedented military manoeuvres by Beijing.

In a separate statement, Shi Yi (施毅), spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command, said the drills were aimed at sending a clear political and military signal.

“This serves as a serious warning to ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces and external interference forces,” Shi said, according to the official release.

Shi added that the exercises focus on “maritime and aerial combat readiness patrols, gaining integrated control, sealing off key ports and areas, and conducting multi-dimensional deterrence”.

The PLA also released a poster titled “Shields of Justice: Smashing Illusions”, featuring two golden shields bearing the PLA insignia and imagery of the Great Wall, alongside military aircraft and naval vessels.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on 29 Dec morning reported detecting two sorties of PLA aircraft, nine PLA Navy vessels and two official Chinese ships operating around Taiwan up until 6am.

The ministry’s routine morning update did not specify whether these movements were directly linked to the newly announced exercises.

While the PLA has previously practised simulated port blockades and encirclement operations around Taiwan, analysts note that this is the first time Beijing has publicly framed such drills as explicit “deterrence” against outside military intervention.

The drills follow a period of heightened rhetoric and regional tension, including recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

They also come just 11 days after Washington announced US$11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest weapons package approved for the island to date.

China’s defence ministry strongly protested the US announcement, warning that the PLA would “take forceful measures” in response, according to official statements issued at the time.

China appoints new military leaders to corruption-hit PLA Eastern Theatre Command overseeing Taiwan

Beyond the immediate military activity, the exercises coincide with significant leadership changes within the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, the key military division responsible for operations related to Taiwan.

Footage broadcast by state broadcaster CCTV during the annual commemoration of the Nanjing massacre on 13 December showed Lieutenant General Yang Zhibin (杨志斌) and Lieutenant General Zhang Jichun (张继春) appearing alongside senior officials.

Yang, aged 62, is widely believed to be serving as acting commander of the Eastern Theatre Command, according to analysts and regional security observers.

He is expected to replace General Lin Xiangyang (林向阳), who was officially removed from his post by the Chinese Communist Party in October 2025.

The leadership reshuffle follows an unprecedented corruption purge announced by the CCP on 17 October 2025, which resulted in the expulsion of nine top generals, including Lin.

The crackdown destabilised the PLA’s senior leadership, particularly within branches linked to strategic missile forces and theatre commands with key operational responsibilities.

Analysts say the emergence of Yang and Zhang is likely intended to restore operational stability and consolidate President Xi Jinping’s authority over the military ahead of future leadership reshuffles.

They added that appointing experienced officers with strong political credentials could help ensure tighter control over the Eastern Theatre Command, which plays a central role in Beijing’s Taiwan strategy.

Taken together, the timing of the drills, the explicit deterrence language, and the command reshuffle underscore Beijing’s efforts to reinforce both military readiness and political discipline as cross-strait and regional tensions continue to rise.