#5Politics
China Runs Justice Mission 2025 Military Drills Around Taiwan
China’s two-day live-fire drills around Taiwan followed an $11.1 billion US arms sale.
6 Nov 2026, 06:23 · All sides · Written by Grok
9 sources · 4 countries🇨🇳 🇭🇰 🇺🇸 🇬🇧
- On December 29 and 30, 2025, the PLA Eastern Theater Command ran large drills named Justice Mission 2025 in the waters around Taiwan.
- Army, navy, air force, and rocket force units took part, with live fire and practice strikes.
- The drills followed a US announcement of $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, drew a condemnation from Taipei, and raised concern from several other governments.
How the views differ
State media, independent media and top voices on X
Chinese state narrative
Beijing calls Justice Mission 2025 a legitimate defense, not an attack.
Officials say China had to warn separatist forces and the governments arming them, and to test whether its services can fight as one force.
They present the exercise as deterrence: a signal that red lines will be enforced.
- en.people.cn (Ind.)
- eng.mod.gov.cn (St.)
- scmp.com (Ind.)
Taiwan’s official narrative and governments critical of the drills
Taipei reads the same exercise as intimidation.
Officials say the US arms sale was a pretext while Chinese forces practiced blocking ports and striking targets around the island.
They argue this makes military pressure look normal, and that the danger comes from Beijing’s drills, not from Taiwan’s defenses.
- maritime-executive.com (Ind.)
- taipeitimes.com (Ind.)
- en.people.cn (Ind.)
- news.usni.org (Ind.)
- state.gov (St.)
The drills themselves are solid. China’s defense ministry and state media announced them, and independent outlets — including the South China Morning Post, the Taipei Times, Maritime Executive, and USNI News — reported the same core: two days, four services, waters on several sides of Taiwan, live fire, simulated strikes, and blockade practice. That part does not depend on either political label.
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Late December 2025: United States announces $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan.
- December 29, 2025
PLA Eastern Theater Command begins Justice Mission 2025 drills.
Coverage
9 sources · 4 countries
- Official 1
- State-funded 3
- Independent 5
CNHKUSGB
All sources
- People's Daily/Xinhua (state-funded China)Units operated in the Taiwan Strait and in waters north, southwest, southeast, and east of Taiwan. People’s Daily Maritime ExecutiveState-funded · China
- maritime-executive.comUnits operated in the Taiwan Strait and in waters north, southwest, southeast, and east of Taiwan. People’s Daily Maritime ExecutiveIndependent
- South China Morning Post (independent)Beijing said the drills answered “Taiwan independence” forces and outside interference after the US arms announcement. South China Morning Post Taipei TimesState-funded · Hong Kong SAR China
- Taipei Times (independent Taiwan)Beijing said the drills answered “Taiwan independence” forces and outside interference after the US arms announcement. South China Morning Post Taipei TimesIndependent
- news.usni.orgTaiwan opened a response center. Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union raised concerns, and the United States urged restraint and dialogue. Taipei Times USNI News US State DepartmentIndependent
- US State Department (official)Taiwan opened a response center. Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union raised concerns, and the United States urged restraint and dialogue. Taipei Times USNI News US State DepartmentOfficial · United States
- eng.mod.gov.cnDefense statements called the drills “necessary and just” to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity. People’s Daily Ministry of National DefenseState-funded · China
- en.wikipedia.orgPLA Eastern Theater Command conducted "Justice Mission 2025" large-scale military drills (Dec 29–30, 2025) involving Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force units in the Taiwan Strait and waters north, southwest, southeast, and east of Taiwan; included live-fire exercises, simulated strikes on land/sea targets, blockade of key ports/areas, sea-air patrols, and all-dimensional deterrence. Drills featured record or extensive coverage with up to seven live-fire zones (later noted as possibly eight unannounced).Independent
- Reuters (independent) [ and related]reuters.comIndependent · United Kingdom