China fired missiles into waters near Taiwan during large-scale live-fire exercises on Tuesday, triggering the island’s largest military encirclement in eight months while alerting “separatist” forces and outside powers.
A video released by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command showed troops firing missiles into waters north of Taiwan and bombers taking off at night as part of the encirclement.
The images were released on the second day of the large-scale exercise ‘Justice Mission 2025’.
China launched the exercise on Monday, encircling Taiwan with warships, planes and gunnery exercises as tensions rose after record US arms sales to Taipei.
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China launched missiles near Taiwan in large-scale live-fire exercises, surrounding the island with warships, aircraft and military pressure as tensions rose. (PLA Eastern Theater Command via Reuters)
“Justice Mission 2025” involves coordinated deployment of ground troops, naval ships, fighter jets, drones and artillery in seven maritime zones around Taiwan.
Tuesday’s exercises included long-range live fire exercises in waters north of Taiwan, PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesman Li Xi said, according to state-run Xinhua News. Li said the exercises had achieved the intended results.
Other exercises include attacks on maritime targets and anti-aircraft and submarine operations. Destroyers, frigates, fighter jets and bombers also carried out simulated attacks on maritime targets.
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China launched missiles near Taiwan in large-scale live-fire exercises, surrounding the island with warships, aircraft and military pressure as tensions rose. (PLA Eastern Theater Command via Reuters)
Missiles fired by Chinese forces landed within Taiwan’s 24-mile line, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said.
Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te said Tuesday that Beijing has “continued to escalate military tensions in the region, which is not the behavior of a responsible world power,” according to Focus Taiwan. He added that “Taiwan will not provoke confrontation or seek conflict with China.”
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on X that 130 PLA aircraft, 14 naval vessels and eight official ships were operating around the island as of 6 a.m. local time.
“Ninety of the 130 flights crossed the center line and reached the northern, central, southwestern and eastern identification zones of Taiwan’s air defense,” the statement said. “We monitored the situation and responded.”
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China launched missiles near Taiwan in large-scale live-fire exercises, surrounding the island with warships, aircraft and military pressure as tensions rose. (PLA Eastern Theater Command via Reuters)
The PLA said on X that a Chinese military drone captured aerial footage of Taipei 101, which Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense described as a typical example of psychological warfare. “So close, so beautiful, you can go to Taipei anytime,” the PLA said in the post.
President Donald Trump said Monday that Chinese President Xi Jinping had not informed him of the exercises, adding that the drills did not concern him.
As the exercises unfolded, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels were operating near the island, with some in tight standoffs near Taiwan’s contiguous zone, about 24 nautical miles offshore.
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Military exercises mobilize China’s navy, army, air force and coast guard, which is seen as punishment for Taiwan’s demand for independence. (Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Conducting target practice around the Taiwan Strait would not only put military pressure on us, but could also pose broader risks to the international community and neighboring countries,” said Hsieh Jih-sheng, Taiwan’s deputy chief of general staff for intelligence.
Taiwan has put its military on high alert and says it is prepared to conduct rapid response exercises if the drills escalate. The ministry released a video highlighting its own capabilities, including US-made HIMARS systems, while the coast guard has deployed large patrol vessels to monitor Chinese vessels near the waters.
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China claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan rejects this claim, stating that only its people can decide the island’s future.
