China Announces Military Drills Around Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions

Mon Dec 29 2025 10:10:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

China is set to conduct military exercises around Taiwan, signaling its stance against separatism and in response to recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

In a show of force, China plans to hold military drills around Taiwan that will involve its army, navy, and air force. The exercises, which include live-fire operations, are seen as a direct warning against separatist movements and come shortly after the U.S. announced significant arms sales to Taiwan. Taiwan has criticized these drills, labeling them a challenge to international norms and has heightened its own defensive readiness.

China has announced it will hold military drills around Taiwan simulating the seizure and blockade of the island's key areas, as a warning against separatist forces.

The army, navy, air force and rocket force would be dispatched for the drills scheduled for Tuesday, which include live-fire exercises, the Chinese military said.

Codenamed Justice Mission 2025, the drills are taking place days after the US announced the sale of one of its largest weapons packages to Taiwan worth $11bn (£8.2bn). That move drew sharp protest from Beijing which in turn sanctioned US defence firms.

Taiwan's push to ramp up its defence this year has also angered Beijing, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory.

Taiwan's presidential office has criticised the upcoming Chinese drills, calling them a challenge to international norms.

Taiwan's defence ministry said that they detected Chinese aircraft and ships around Taiwan on Monday morning, and have deployed their own forces and missile systems to monitor the situation. Its forces are on high alert to defend Taiwan and protect our people, the ministry said.

In a post on Weibo, the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command - in charge of the Taiwan Strait - described the upcoming military exercise as a shield of justice.

Beijing has accused Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te of pursuing Taiwan independence. The president maintains Taiwan is already a sovereign nation and therefore has no need to formally declare independence.

Since 2022 Beijing has ramped up military drills in the Taiwan Strait, usually in response to what it deems as threats such as former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022 and Lai's inauguration in 2024.

The drills this week in the Taiwan Strait would also aim at deterrence outside the island chain, China's military said.

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