BEJING, (Reuters): China fired rockets into waters north and south of Taiwan on Tuesday as part of its largest military exercises to date around the island, simulating a potential blockade and escalating pressure on the democratically governed territory.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command said live-fire drills would continue until 6 p.m. (1000 GMT), affecting sea and airspace in five zones surrounding Taiwan. It also released footage showing what appeared to be a PCH-191 mobile long-range rocket launcher firing into the sea from an undisclosed location on the Chinese mainland. Naval and air force units carried out simulated strikes on maritime and aerial targets, along with anti-submarine operations to Taiwan’s north and south, the Chinese military said.
The drills, named “Justice Mission 2025”, began 11 days after the United States announced a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan. They are Beijing’s most extensive exercises by area and the closest yet to the island. A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters that authorities are monitoring whether China will again fire missiles over Taiwan, as it did during exercises in 2022 following a visit by then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The official said the exercises also appeared aimed at practising strikes on land-based systems such as the U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launcher, which has a range of about 300 km and could hit coastal targets in southern China. China’s PCH-191 system, which Chinese state media says can strike anywhere on Taiwan, has a comparable range.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said frontline troops were on alert to defend the island but stressed that Taipei did not seek to escalate tensions. Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed that live-fire drills took place north of the island on Tuesday morning and that debris entered Taiwan’s contiguous zone, defined as 24 nautical miles offshore. China’s military said rockets were fired into waters both north and south of Taiwan.
Analysts said the exercises reflected growing confidence in Beijing. Lyle Goldstein of U.S. think tank Defense Priorities said China appeared emboldened by recent U.S. tariff negotiations and internal political divisions in Taiwan. A Chinese blockade would severely disrupt global trade, analysts warn. About $2.45 trillion in trade passes through the Taiwan Strait annually, while the airspace above Taiwan is a key route linking China with East and Southeast Asia.
Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Authority said 11 of 14 flight routes were affected, though no international flights were cancelled. Flights to the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu were suspended, affecting around 6,000 passengers. Taiwan’s coast guard said 14 Chinese coastguard vessels were operating near its contiguous zone, with some engaging in standoffs with Taiwanese ships. The defence ministry reported that 130 Chinese military aircraft and 22 naval and coastguard vessels were active around Taiwan in the previous 24 hours.
Chinese media highlighted the first deployment of a Type 075 amphibious assault ship during the drills. Analysts say the vessel can launch helicopters, landing craft, amphibious tanks and armoured vehicles simultaneously. The exercises also focused on simulating a blockade of Taiwan’s key ports, including Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south. A draft Pentagon report cited by Reuters last week said China expects to be capable of fighting and winning a war over Taiwan by 2027, a symbolic milestone marking the 100th anniversary of the PLA.
