At a Glance
- China staged its biggest Taiwan blockade drill, citing the $11.1 B U.S. arms package as a trigger.
- The exercise tested sea-air coordination and warned the U.S. of further support.
- Chinese forces deployed the Type 075 amphibious assault ship for the first time.
- Why it matters: The drill signals China’s readiness to pressure Taiwan and challenges U.S. support.
On Tuesday, China launched a large-scale military exercise around Taiwan that mirrored a full-scale blockade. Dubbed Justice Mission 2025, the drills involved rockets, assault ships, and bombers circling the island. The move was widely seen as a direct response to the U.S. $11.1 B arms package for Taiwan.
China’s “Justice Mission 2025” War Games
The two-day exercise saw the Chinese military encircle Taiwan, the biggest such drill in eight months. Rockets were fired, assault ships massed, and bombers flew over the island’s airspace. The Ministry of Defense said the drills were necessary to defend national security and territorial integrity.
- Rockets launched from shore batteries
- Type 075 amphibious assault ship deployed for the first time
- Maritime exclusion zones established, five overlapping Taiwan’s 12-nautical-mile waters
- Sea-air coordination drills tested integrated blockade and control
- Long-range live-fire drills north of Taiwan achieved “desired effects” according to Senior Capt. Li Xi
Senior Capt. Li Xi
> “The drills achieved desired effects.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
> “Beijing must ‘resolutely oppose and forcefully counter’ actions such as the U.S. arms package.”
Reactions from the U.S., Taiwan, and Analysts
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported detecting 130 Chinese military aircraft and 22 naval and coast guard vessels in the 24 hours to 6 a.m. The Taiwanese president, Lai Ching-te, blasted the exercise as “groundless and provocative” and warned that China had “undermined regional stability through military intimidation.”
| Category | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft | 130 | Taiwan Ministry of National Defense |
| Naval vessels | 22 | Taiwan Ministry of National Defense |
| U.S. arms package | $11.1 B | News Of Fort Worth |
President Lai Ching-te
> “China has disregarded the international community’s expectations for peace, insisting instead on undermining regional stability through military intimidation.”
Ava Shen, a China associate at Eurasia Group, said the exercise was likely a response to the U.S. arms package. She told News Of Fort Worth:
Ava Shen
> “Because of this unprecedented amount, I think China felt that it needs to respond.”
The U.S. has no official relations with Taiwan but is its most important international backer and is legally bound to provide defensive weapons. The exercise is the first major one around Taiwan since Strait Thunder in April, and the sixth since 2022.
Key Takeaways
- China’s drill tested sea-air coordination and established maritime exclusion zones.
- The U.S. $11.1 B arms package for Taiwan appears to have prompted the exercise.
- Taiwan’s leadership condemned the drills as provocative and warned of regional destabilization.
China’s latest war games underscore its continued pressure on Taiwan while signaling a warning to the U.S. about further support for the island.
