Overview
- China’s Eastern Theater Command concluded the two‑day “Mission Justice 2025” live‑fire drills that simulated port blockades and long‑range strikes around Taiwan.
- Beijing called the operations a severe warning to Taiwanese independence forces and external interference, as Xi Jinping used his New Year address to declare reunification unstoppable.
- Taiwan condemned the maneuvers as highly provocative and asserted that China failed to impose a full blockade on the island.
- Taiwan’s Coast Guard said some Chinese vessels remained outside the 24‑nautical‑mile line and kept Taiwanese patrols deployed.
- President Lai Ching‑te pledged stronger defenses and sought budget backing, with a U.S. arms package exceeding $11 billion approved for Taipei and China formally rejecting UK criticism as interference.