China‘s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continued its extensive military exercises around Taiwan for a second day on Tuesday, conducting live-fire drills as part of the operation dubbed “Justice Mission 2025”. The manoeuvres, involving warships, fighter jets, bombers and artillery, were designed to demonstrate Beijing’s capability to blockade key ports, conduct precision strikes and deter external intervention in what China regards as its sovereign territory.

The PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command deployed destroyers, frigates and aircraft to areas north, south and east of Taiwan, practising sea-air coordination and simulated blockades. Ground forces in Fujian province fired long-range live rounds into designated zones north of the island, with command spokesperson Senior Colonel Shi Yi proclaiming that the exercises achieved their intended objectives.

Propaganda footage released by the command included provocative imagery, such as views of Taipei 101, accompanied by captions like “So Near, So Beautiful — Anytime to Taipei”.

These drills, the largest by coverage this year with seven designated danger zones, disrupted regional air and sea traffic.

Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration reported that over 850 flights were impacted, affecting more than 100,000 passengers, with dozens of domestic routes cancelled and international flights rerouted.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence detected 130 PLA aircraft, including fighters and bombers, along with 14 navy vessels and additional coastguard ships in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning.

Ninety aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone. A Chinese surveillance balloon was also spotted. In response, Taiwan scrambled jets, deployed naval vessels and activated coastal missile systems.

Defence Minister Wellington Koo described the actions as “highly provocative”, warning they undermined regional stability and threatened shipping lanes, trade routes and aviation safety. Taipei labelled Beijing “the biggest destroyer of peace” in the strait.

The exercises followed closely on the heels of a US announcement of an £8.23 billion arms package to Taiwan – the largest ever – including HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers and drones.

Beijing imposed sanctions on 20 US defence firms and 10 executives in retaliation. Chinese officials accused President Lai Ching-te’s Democratic Progressive Party administration of seeking independence by “pandering to external forces”, calling it the root cause of rising tensions.

State media commentary from Xinhua emphasised that the drills delivered a clear warning: any attempt to separate Taiwan would face resolute countermeasures. It criticised Taiwan’s ruling party for “binding the island to its catastrophic secessionist chariot” through arms purchases and alignment with the United States.

While China conducts near-daily incursions into Taiwan’s vicinity, the scale of Justice Mission 2025 marked a significant escalation. Beijing claims Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory and has vowed reunification, by force if necessary.

The two sides have been governed separately since 1949, after nationalist forces fled to the island following the Chinese civil war.

The drills also exacerbated China-Japan frictions. Beijing reacted angrily to statements by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting Tokyo’s military could intervene in a Taiwan contingency, evoking historical suspicions rooted in Japan’s pre-World War II occupation of parts of China.

US President Donald Trump, when asked about the exercises, expressed little concern, citing his “great relationship” with President Xi Jinping and noting that China had conducted similar naval activities for years. He indicated he did not believe Xi intended to invade Taiwan.

As 2025 draws to a close, these manoeuvres underscore deepening strains across the Taiwan Strait, with implications for regional security and international alliances.