China conducts massive military exercises around Taiwan and stokes tensions
On Monday, Beijing announced the start of large military exercises around Taiwan, in a particularly tense context over the recent sale of weapons by the United States to the island, which has mobilized its forces in response to Chinese drills.
A statement from the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Command said the Chinese military was using destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and drones in the drills that began on Monday, which include live-fire drills on naval targets north and southwest of Taiwan.
Taiwan’s military said on Monday it had deployed appropriate forces in response to China’s announcement.
“A response center has been set up, and appropriate forces have been deployed,” Taiwan’s military said, adding that his armed forces “carried out a rapid response exercise”.
The show of force comes after weeks of tensions between China and Japan, which began with statements suggesting Tokyo could support Taiwan in the event of a future armed conflict.
In remarks to parliament on November 7, Japanese Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi said the use of force against Taiwan could justify a military response from Tokyo.
Beijing angrily reacted to Takaichi’s demand that she withdraws her permit, summoned the Japanese ambassador and urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, while various Japanese cultural events in China were affected.
The military exercise also follows a new US arms sale to Taipei in mid-December, the second since Donald Trump returned to office, with a total value of $11.1 billion.
That infuriated Beijing, which last week responded by imposing sanctions on 20 US defense companies.
“As of December 29, the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command will send troops from the army, navy, air force and missile forces to conduct joint military exercises codenamed Justice Mission 2025,” said a statement issued by Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the PLA’s Eastern Region Command.
A separate statement showed a map of five large areas surrounding the island where live shooting activities will be held from 8 am to 6 pm (from 00:00 to 10:00 GMT on Tuesday).
“For safety matters, it advised not to enter any unrelated vessel or aircraft into the above-mentioned waters and airspace,” the statement said.
“Taiwan expresses its strong condemnation in the face of the Chinese authorities’ disregard for international norms and their use of military intimidation to threaten neighboring countries,” Taiwanese presidential office spokeswoman said in a statement.
Taiwan’s coast guard said it had spotted four Chinese coast guard vessels near the island’s waters, and said they were sailing near the waters off the northern and eastern coasts of Taiwan.
They continued that large ships were mobilized… in relevant areas and additional support units have been sent.
The Chinese statement said, “this week’s drills are a stern warning against separatist forces demanding independence, a legitimate and necessary measure to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity”.
“Chinese ships will approach the island of Taiwan at very short distances from different directions,” the statement said.
The last live-fire drills around Taiwan was in April, and were among undeclared exercises condemned by Taipei.
