China Launches Major Military Drills Around Taiwan in Warning Over “Independence” Moves

China launched joint military exercises Monday around Taiwan as a stern warning against “Taiwan independence separatist forces” and “external interference,” according to state-run media. The Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) deployed fighter jets, bombers, UAVs, and long-range rocket forces in drills code-named “Justice Mission 2025”, covering the Taiwan Strait and areas surrounding the island. The exercises focused on striking mobile ground targets and testing the PLA’s ability to conduct precise attacks under joint operational conditions.

The drills follow the Trump administration’s announcement earlier this month of eight new arms packages for Taiwan, totaling over $11 billion. In response, Beijing sanctioned at least 20 US defense firms and 10 senior executives, calling the sale a provocation. PLA spokesperson Shi Yi said the exercises were a “legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry described the drills as “severe punishment against Taiwanese separatists” and warned that any external interference or attempt to block China’s reunification “will face a resolute head-on blow.”