Taiwan Remains Vigilant Amid China's Extensive Military Exercises

Hong Kong – 29 December 2025: In a significant show of force, China has deployed air, naval, and missile units for extensive joint exercises surrounding Taiwan, framing the actions as a “stern warning” against separatist movements and foreign interference.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has reported that its military is on heightened alert, engaging in rapid response and combat readiness drills. Officials have denounced the Chinese maneuvers as aggressive and a threat to stability, labeling Beijing as “the foremost disruptor of peace.”

These drills come in the wake of rising tensions sparked by recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, alongside comments from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about potential military support for Taiwan in the event of hostile actions from China. However, China has not explicitly identified the U.S. or Japan in its military statements.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi of the Eastern Theater Command stated that the drills encompass the Taiwan Strait and areas surrounding the island, with a focus on sea-air combat readiness, joint supremacy operations, port blockades, and precision strikes on mobile ground targets.

“This operation serves as a legitimate and essential measure to uphold China’s sovereignty and national unity,” Shi asserted.

Scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the exercises consist of live-fire training and the coordinated deployment of fighters, bombers, UAVs, and long-range missile systems. The command has also circulated thematic posters online, branding the exercises as the “Shield of Justice, Smashing Illusion.”

In response to Washington's announcement of over $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, which could be the largest ever pending Congressional approval, Beijing has recently enacted sanctions against 20 U.S. defense firms and 10 executives.

Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the Taiwanese president, criticized China’s military activities as breaches of international standards that jeopardize regional stability. Taiwan has accelerated the development of its “Taiwan Shield” air defense initiative in light of China’s intensified military pressure.

Calls for peace resonate amid these tensions, with Taipei's Mayor Chiang Wan-an underscoring the need for the Taiwan Strait to represent stability and prosperity rather than conflict.