Overview
- China’s Eastern Theater Command said the two-day operation successfully concluded and touted a test of integrated joint operations.
- Taiwan condemned the drills as highly provocative, reporting rockets fell within its 24-nautical-mile zone and civil flights were disrupted.
- Taiwan kept military and coast guard forces on alert, noting some Chinese vessels withdrew even as numerous planes and ships lingered in its response area.
- Beijing framed the maneuvers as a necessary warning to “Taiwan independence” and external interference, following a record $11.1 billion U.S. arms approval for Taiwan.
- Japan, Australia, and the Philippines voiced concern that the exercises raised tensions across the Taiwan Strait.