DefenseNews: China’s recent military drills near Taiwan conducted under the banner of “Justice Mission 2025” have drawn intense global attention and concern.
Analysts say that these exercises, undertaken by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) across naval and air domains, were not merely routine training but a possible rehearsal of blockade strategies aimed at deterring the United States and its allies from intervening in a Taiwan contingency. The drills took place across five maritime and air zones surrounding the self‑ruled island, bringing PLA assets closer to Taiwanese territory than in previous exercises and simulating the blockage of key air and sea routes.
This development marks a significant phase in China’s military strategy, highlighting its evolving joint operations capabilities and intensified focus on anti‑access/area denial (A2/AD) tactics against external forces. As tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait, the implications for regional security, particularly for the U.S., Japan, and ASEAN partner,s are profound.
Background: “Justice Mission 2025” Near Taiwan
In late December 2025, the PLA Eastern Theater Command launched a broad series of military drills encircling Taiwan, dubbed “Justice Mission 2025.” The two‑day exercises involved coordinated actions by the PLA’s Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and Army support elements in areas north, east, southeast, and southwest of Taiwan’s main island.
These exercises represent the largest scale of military maneuvers in the region in over three years, drawing closer to Taiwan’s territorial waters and airspace than earlier drills. Satellite and defense ministry reporting indicate the PLA conducted live‑fire rocket artillery launches into the contiguous zone within 24 nautical miles off Taiwan’s coast alongside naval and air elements practicing blockade and interception tactics.
According to Taipei defense analysts, the scope of the drills at times reached areas earlier considered beyond typical training zones, underscoring Beijing’s intent to stress its ability to exert control over critical maritime and aerial approaches.
China’s Army, Navy & Air Force Roles in the Drills
PLA Navy: Simulating Maritime Blockade
The PLA Navy played a central role in the exercises, deploying destroyers, frigates, coast guard vessels, and support ships into clustered zones around Taiwan. These maritime assets conducted patrols, simulated interceptions, and coordinated movements to control major ocean routes.
The strategic focus on sea lanes aims to simulate conditions under which the PLA could cut off Taiwan’s vital supply lines, including commercial shipping and energy imports a tactic that could be part of a larger blockade strategy in conflict scenarios.
Naval operations also stressed joint operations with the Chinese Coast Guard a civilian force regularly integrated into the military’s enforcement strategy in contested waters signaling Beijing’s use of layered forces to complicate an adversary’s response.
PLA Air Force: Airspace Control and Pressure
PLA Air Force units escorted naval forces and conducted extensive sorties around Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), challenging Taiwan’s radar and interception systems. Hundreds of flights were tracked during peak drill periods, including fighter jets, bombers, and surveillance platforms.
These air operations executed simulated identification, warning, and expulsion drills against hypothetical intrusions and were designed to test air superiority concepts — essential in any blockade or anti‑access campaign aimed at deterring U.S. air intervention.
Rocket Force and Army Support
The PLA Rocket Force provided live‑fire training, with artillery units targeting sea zones to practice blockading techniques. These long‑range systems directly contribute to China’s anti‑access/area‑denial (A2/AD) strategy, designed to complicate an adversary’s ability to support Taiwan.
Chinese ground forces and each branch’s integration underscore Beijing’s increasing emphasis on joint operations preparedness a critical component of any real conflict scenario in the Taiwan Strait.
Strategic Messaging: Deterrence and Signaling
While Beijing frames these exercises as sovereignty protection and deterrence against “Taiwan independence forces,” international analysts interpret them as an explicit signal to the United States and its regional partners.
The PLA’s actions coincide with heightened U.S. support for Taiwan, including recent arms sales and diplomatic engagement. Chinese analysts in Taipei describe the drills as not only practicing blockade techniques but also testing joint coordination across naval, air, and missile forces under near‑combat conditions.
China’s official defense commentary emphasizes a stance of vigilance, warning external powers against interference while portraying the exercises as necessary to preserve China’s territorial integrity and deter separatist movements.
Taipei’s Response and Defense Preparations
Taiwan condemned the exercises as highly provocative and reckless, highlighting widespread disruptions to civilian flights and trade movements during the drills. Taiwanese authorities argue that such actions undermine cross‑strait peace and stability.
Taipei’s defense ministries continue to reinforce their own readiness by conducting surveillance missions, maintaining heightened alert levels, and coordinating with U.S. and allied forces on monitoring PLA activities. Investments in air defense systems, anti‑ship missiles, and early‑warning capabilities are part of Taiwan’s broader strategy to counter potential blockade and coercive tactics.
Regional and Global Security Impacts
U.S. Strategic Interests
The United States, bound to Taiwan through the Taiwan Relations Act, has reiterated its commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, warning against unilateral changes to the status quo by force or coercion. Washington has urged China to exercise restraint and engage diplomatically.
The PLA exercises were widely viewed in Washington as unnecessary escalation, prompting U.S. officials to underscore support for freedom of navigation and continue military cooperation with Taiwan’s defense forces.
Japan and Southeast Asian Concerns
Japan and other Indo‑Pacific states, including the Philippines and Australia, officially expressed concerns over rising tensions and destabilizing actions in the region. Diplomatic protests reflect broader anxieties regarding China’s growing military reach and its potential to disrupt regional security architectures.
Japan, in particular, has deepened its defensive posture following recent trends where China’s military buildup is increasingly cited in Tokyo’s strategic planning and public opinion polls.
ASEAN and Wider Asia‑Pacific
China’s assertive military stance near Taiwan has also prompted ASEAN member states to reassess their security priorities, balancing economic ties with concerns about coercive behavior in maritime domains. Nations such as Vietnam and Indonesia are closely observing developments that could impact freedom of navigation and their own territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
Analysis: Is This a Blockade Test or Signaling Operation?
Military experts emphasize that practicing full blockade operations is complex and resource‑intensive, requiring sustainable logistics and secure command and control. While the PLA exercises showcased significant coordination, analysts caution that sustaining an effective blockade over prolonged periods is still untested.
Nevertheless, the scale and complexity of “Justice Mission 2025” particularly the integration of multiple service branches and simulated control of key air and sea routes suggest that China is not merely posturing but actively rehearsing strategies that could be applied in a real conflict.
Future Outlook: China’s Military Modernization
Beijing’s defense strategy increasingly focuses on joint operations, technological advances, and anti‑access/area‑denial capabilities. Enhanced ballistic missiles, stealth aircraft, and networked naval assets are central to blocking access by foreign military forces.
Experts predict that China will continue conducting multi‑domain exercises to refine its blockade tactics, test U.S. and allied responses, and shape international perceptions of its military reach. Observers will watch future PLA training scenarios for evolving patterns and deeper integration of strategic assets.
Posts
0 Comments