China mobilises forces around Taiwan with military exercises

The Chinese military today announced the mobilisation of army, navy, air force and missile units around Taiwan for military exercises with the aim of testing what it called combat readiness and to send a "serious warning" against any attempt at Taiwan independence. China has significantly stepped up its Taiwan encirclement drills since 2022, following a visit to Taipei by then US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which was a significant show of support for Taiwan and infuriated Beijing's leadership. The latest exercises, dubbed 'Just Mission 2025', are divided into five blocks around the island, including the Taiwan Strait, north, southwest, southeast and east Taiwan.

China said it has begun military gun drills near Taiwan, just hours after announcing 'major' exercises in the waters and airspace near the self-governing democratic island. Beijing's military "is deploying destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles" in today's drills, which include "live-fire training on maritime targets north and southwest of Taiwan," reads a statement from the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command.

The Taiwanese government condemned the military manoeuvres undertaken by the Chinese armed forces in the Strait and in the north, southwest, southeast and east areas of the island. A spokesman for the presidential office urged China not to misunderstand the situation and not to undermine regional peace, and called on Beijing to immediately end what it described as "irresponsible provocations". "In response to the Chinese authorities' disregard for international norms and use of military intimidation to threaten neighbouring countries, Taiwan expresses its strong condemnation," said Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the presidential office. Taiwan's defence ministry said that two Chinese military aircraft and 11 ships had been operating around the island in the past 24 hours and that the island's military was on high alert and ready to carry out 'rapid response exercises'. This particular exercise is designed to move troops quickly in case China suddenly turns one of its frequent drills around the island into an attack. "All members of our armed forces will remain extremely vigilant and on full alert, taking concrete measures to defend the values of democracy and freedom," reads a note.

Taiwan claims to have detected 89 Chinese military aircraft and 28 boats near the island. Beijing launched live ammunition drills near Taiwan today, which it said would simulate a blockade of key ports on the island, prompting Taipei to condemn what it called Chinese 'military intimidation'.