Taiwan condemns China’s “military intimidation” as PLA launches Justice Mission 2025 drills

Taiwan condemned China on 29 December 2025 for what it described as “military intimidation” after Beijing announced major live-fire drills around the democratic island, prompting heightened alert levels by Taiwan’s armed forces.

“In response to the Chinese authorities’ disregard for international norms and the use of military intimidation to threaten neighbouring countries, Taiwan expresses its strong condemnation,” Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also issued a separate condemnation, stating that it “strongly condemns the PRC’s irrational provocations” and opposes actions by the People’s Liberation Army that undermine regional peace and stability.

Taiwan raises alert levels and launches rapid response exercises

The ministry said it had activated Rapid Response Exercises, with forces placed on high alert to defend the Republic of China and protect the population amid the expanding Chinese military activity.

China announced that it had launched live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday, describing them as simulations of a blockade targeting the island’s key ports and maritime approaches.

According to a People’s Liberation Army’s spokesman, the exercises involve coordinated deployments of army, navy, air force and rocket force units under a code-named operation, “Justice Mission 2025”.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi of the PLA‘s Eastern Theatre Command said the drills focus on sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockades of key ports and areas, and “all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain”.

Chinese authorities also released a map identifying five large zones around Taiwan where additional live-fire activities would take place from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Tuesday.

“For the sake of safety, any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter the afore-mentioned waters and airspace,” the PLA statement said.

Taiwan counters with messaging and imagery

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported that by 6:00 am on 29 December it had detected two sorties of PLA aircraft, nine PLA Navy vessels and two official Chinese ships operating around the island.

Alongside its operational response, Taiwan’s defence ministry used visual messaging to counter Beijing’s narrative. It released a poster echoing earlier imagery circulated by the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command.

Taiwan’s version featured the words “sovereignty”, “democracy”, and a bold red “freedom” superimposed over the main island, contrasting with the PLA poster titled “Arrows of justice: internal control, external strike(正義之箭，内控外軀)”, which depicted arrows flying over Taiwan.

The ministry also shared a video on X carrying the caption “resilient Taiwan, steadfast defence”, stating that security cannot be based on illusions nor decided by others.

Drills follow US arms sales and rising regional rhetoric

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out the use of force to bring the island under its control, despite Taipei’s firm rejection of those claims.

This marks China’s sixth major round of military exercises around Taiwan since 2022, when then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island, triggering unprecedented PLA manoeuvres.

The latest drills follow a significant round of arms sales to Taipei by Washington, which announced an US$11.1 billion package just 11 days earlier, the largest approved for Taiwan to date.

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

Regional tensions have also been fuelled by recent remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt a military response from Tokyo.

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

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

Footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV on 13 December during a Nanjing massacre commemoration showed Lieutenant General Yang Zhibin and Lieutenant General Zhang Jichun appearing alongside senior officials.

Analysts believe Yang, aged 62, is acting commander of the Eastern Theatre Command and is expected to replace General Lin Xiangyang, who was removed from his post in October 2025.

Lin’s removal followed a corruption purge announced on 17 October 2025, which saw nine top generals expelled from the Chinese Communist Party, destabilising senior PLA leadership.

Observers say the emergence of Yang and Zhang is intended to restore operational stability and reinforce President Xi Jinping’s control over the military, particularly in strategically sensitive commands.