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China ends live-fire drills around Taiwan after US $11 billion arms approval
China has wrapped up its most expansive military exercises encircling Taiwan in years, a two-day show of force that involved rockets, warships, and dozens of aircraft. The maneuvers, codenamed "Mission Justice 2025," kicked off on Monday with coordinated operations from the People's Liberation Army's army, navy, air force, and rocket forces in waters surrounding the island. By Wednesday, Chinese vessels appeared to pull back, even as Beijing formally declared the drills successfully concluded.
The exercises featured destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, and bombers simulating port blockades at key Taiwanese harbors, live-fire training, and strikes on sea targets. Taiwan's defense ministry tracked 130 aircraft and 22 warships in the first 24 hours alone, with 90 Chinese planes crossing the Taiwan Strait median line. Some rockets landed within Taiwan's contiguous 24-nautical-mile zone, closer than in prior drills, while seven temporary "danger zones" disrupted air and sea traffic, forcing over 80 domestic flight cancellations and impacting more than 850 international routes.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te denounced the actions as efforts to heighten regional tensions, warning that China's authoritarian expansion and growing coercion threaten maritime transport, global trade, and world peace. His defense ministry labeled the drills "highly provocative and irrational." Taiwan's coast guard noted Chinese warships and vessels withdrawing beyond the 24-nautical-mile line but urged sustained vigilance.
The operations followed the Trump administration's December 18 approval of an unprecedented $11 billion US arms package to Taiwan, including advanced rocket systems, self-propelled howitzers, and drones. They also came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's November remarks suggesting a Taiwan attack could draw Japan into conflict. Japan voiced concerns to Beijing, calling the drills escalatory, while the European Union, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand urged restraint to preserve regional stability.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian justified the exercises as a "stern warning and effective deterrence" against Taiwan independence forces, accusing critics of ignoring Taiwan's military buildup.
