The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Monday conducted wide-ranging drills codenamed "Justice Mission 2025" around Taiwan in a warning to separatist forces.

Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command, said it was dispatching its Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops to conduct drills in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan Island.

The drills will focus on subjects of sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain, he added.

"With vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services engage in joint assaults to test their joint operations capabilities," he said.

It is a stern warning against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external interference, and a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity, he said.

The theater command said live-fire training was conducted north of Taiwan on Monday, where destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and drones were deployed in coordination with long-range rocket fire to simulate strikes on ground targets, along with live fire exercises against water targets.

In the middle area of the Taiwan Strait, more drills were held focused on striking mobile ground targets.

While to the east of the island, exercises were held focusing on maritime targets, seizure of regional air superiority, as well as submarine hunting and anti-submarine operations.

At the same time, the coast guard of Fujian province organised a law enforcement patrol in the waters off Taiwan Island, as well as the Matsu and Wuqiu islands starting Monday, according to a statement posted by the China Coast Guard on its official website.

The activities were carried out to exercise the jurisdiction over the Taiwan Island and its attached islets in accordance with the one-China principle, said Zhu Anqing, spokesperson of the East Sea Bureau of the China. (Xinhua)
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Last updated: 2025-12-29 HKT 15:54