China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continued large-scale military exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday, staging live-fire drills as part of “Justice Mission 2025” to signal its ability to deter external support for the island. Taiwanese authorities said some Chinese rounds landed closer to the island than in previous exercises.

The drills disrupted civilian life, with Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration establishing seven temporary “danger zones,” leading to over 150 international and domestic flight delays or cancellations. The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters, and bombers north and south of Taiwan, while ground forces conducted long-range live-fire drills. Command spokesperson Li Xi said the exercises achieved “desired effects.”

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported detecting 130 Chinese aircraft, 14 military ships, eight other official vessels, and a Chinese balloon between Monday and Tuesday. Ninety aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. President Lai Ching-te condemned the drills, pledging Taiwan would act responsibly without provoking conflict.

The exercises are part of a broader Chinese strategy to pressure Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, and to challenge the Democratic Progressive Party’s arms purchases from the U.S. Last week, China imposed sanctions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 executives following a $10 billion arms sale to Taipei.

Tensions also extended to Japan, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized Tokyo for statements suggesting military involvement if China attacked Taiwan, calling for vigilance against “resurgence of Japanese militarism.”

Locally, Taiwan’s fishing communities faced economic losses as the exercises restricted access to fishing zones. Chen Wen-chin of the Keelung District Fishermen’s Association said radio alerts were broadcast hourly to guide fishermen away from dangerous areas.

Source: AP