Overview
- The PLA said it successfully concluded two days of live-fire exercises, code-named Justice Mission 2025, that rehearsed blockade and strike operations using missiles, fighter jets, bombers, navy ships and coastguard vessels.
- Taiwan condemned the maneuvers as highly provocative and reported several live rounds fell within its 24-nautical-mile zone, closer than in previous drills.
- Taiwan’s coastguard maintained 11 ships on deployment because Chinese vessels had not fully left surrounding waters despite signs of withdrawal.
- Xi Jinping used his 2026 New Year message to assert that the reunification of the motherland is unstoppable, reinforcing Beijing’s claims over the island.
- Japan, Australia and the Philippines criticized the exercises as destabilizing, and Taiwan reported flight delays and cancellations after temporary danger zones were declared; the drills followed a major U.S. arms package to Taipei and coincided with Quad diplomacy in Beijing.