China : affirms its territorial claim and begins “Justice Mission 2025” military exercises surrounding Taiwan
China: In an effort to demonstrate its control over the island country, which Beijing maintains “is a sacred and inseparable part” of its territory, China announced Monday the start of a massive inter-service joint military drill near Taiwan.
The military exercise known as “Justice Mission 2025” included the coordinated involvement of China’s ground troops, air force, navy, missile units, and other branches of the armed forces, according to China Daily, which cited a representative for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command.
The drill involves air and marine patrols, simulated attacks on enemy targets, blockades of important ports and localities, and deterrent operations along the battlefield’s edge, according to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokeswoman for the PLA Eastern Theatre Command.
The purpose of the exercises is to evaluate the PLA’s integrated operational and joint fighting capabilities.
“The operation includes air and sea patrols, suppression of hostile forces, blockade of critical ports and zones, and battlefield periphery deterrence, and is intended to test our forces’ joint combat capabilities,” he told China Daily.
In order to evaluate quick deployment and all-domain operational control, he further said that PLA aircraft and navy vessels are maneuvering near Taiwan from various angles and that several service branches are simulating combined attacks.
Asserting that the operation is a vital step to protect China’s sovereignty and national unity, Shi called the drills a “stern warning” and said they are aimed at “Taiwan independence” forces and what he called outside meddling in the Taiwan dispute, according to China Daily.
A poster with the subject “Shield of Justice, Smashing Illusion” was also published by the Eastern Theatre Command in conjunction with the drill.
Along with long-range rocket troops, the Command is also sending fighter planes, bombers, and unmanned aerial vehicles to undertake drills in the core regions of the Taiwan Strait’s seas and airspace.
The purpose of the exercises is to test the forces’ capacity to carry out accurate attacks on vital targets while engaging mobile ground targets.
China’s action may be seen as a more aggressive effort to bolster its claim to the island, which Beijing maintains is an essential component of its sovereignty.
The drill also comes after a significant weapons deal for Taiwan was approved by the US government on December 18 under President Donald Trump.
The US State Department estimates that the planned sales, which include drones, howitzers, and medium-range missiles, are worth USD 11.1 billion.
Eight armament packages, including drones, anti-tank missiles, and HIMARS rocket launchers, might be sold to Taiwan.
“Seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiques, interferes in China’s internal affairs, and undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” is how China has denounced the US sale of the weaponry package.
China responded by announcing last week that US defense-related businesses and top personnel would be subject to penalties.
Ten top officials and twenty US defense-related businesses that have recently supplied Taiwan with weapons may face penalties, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The measure will take effect immediately and was adopted in accordance with China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law.
Taiwan, meanwhile, criticized China for its military drill, calling it a “irrational provocation” and pointing out that Beijing’s behavior puts “regional peace” at risk.
“We firmly reject the PLA’s activities that threaten regional peace and denounce the PRC’s illogical provocations. The Taiwanese Minister of National Defense wrote on X, “Rapid Response Exercises are in progress, with forces on high alert to defend the Republic of China and protect our people.”