China Conducts Live-Fire Drills Around Taiwan, Simulating Port Blockade

China has launched large-scale live-fire military drills around Taiwan, simulating a blockade of major ports and targeting maritime and military assets, in a move Beijing described as a warning against pro-independence forces and external involvement.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it deployed naval, air force, and rocket units to surround Taiwan, along with coast guard vessels conducting enforcement operations near Taiwan’s outer islands. The exercise, named Justice Mission 2025, includes drills focused on sea-air coordination, precision strikes, and blocking access to key maritime routes.
China’s military stated that the operation was aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to official statements, the drills are designed to test rapid manoeuvres, multi-directional positioning, and the ability to enforce a comprehensive blockade.
Taiwan strongly condemned the exercises, accusing Beijing of escalating tensions and threatening regional stability. Taiwan’s defence authorities said they had mobilised appropriate forces and launched counter combat-readiness drills in response. The coast guard also warned that the scale of the exercises posed serious risks to navigation and fishing activities in surrounding waters.
The drills come amid heightened regional tensions following recent statements by foreign leaders on potential involvement in a Taiwan conflict, increased arms sales to Taiwan, and renewed commitments by Taipei to strengthen its military preparedness.
China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has increased military pressure in recent years. Taiwan, however, rejects Beijing’s claims and continues to reinforce its defences, with strong public and political opposition to any form of forced unification.
Analysts note that the current exercises appear larger and closer to Taiwan than previous drills, with an added emphasis on deterring international intervention, signaling a further escalation in China’s military posture in the region.