Overview
- China’s Eastern Theater Command conducted long-range live-fire rocket drills visible from Pingtan, with real-ammunition exercises scheduled in five zones until 18:00 local time Tuesday, some within 12 nautical miles of Taiwan’s coast according to Taipei.
- Taiwan’s defense ministry tracked 130 Chinese military aircraft and 22 vessels over 24 hours, the highest daily aircraft tally since October 2024, while the coast guard deployed 14 ships to shadow Chinese vessels.
- Taipei ran rapid-response drills and warned of aviation disruption affecting 857 flights on Tuesday, with cancellations to the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu impacting about 6,000 passengers.
- PLA statements say the operation uses destroyers, frigates, bombers, fighters and drones to rehearse blockades, seize integrated air-sea superiority and target key ports.
- Taiwan condemned the exercises as intimidation; China’s foreign minister warned against independence and U.S. arms transfers, and President Trump said he does not believe Xi Jinping will order an invasion.