China launches major military drills around Taiwan

By Anadolu staff

China launched joint military drills Monday around Taiwan in a stern warning against "Taiwan Independence" separatist forces and external interference, according to state-run media.

The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) dispatched fighter jets, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in coordination with long-range rocket forces to conduct drills code-named "Justice Mission 2025" in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan Island, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the theater command.

The exercises are focused on striking mobile ground targets and aimed at testing the PLA’s ability to conduct precise attacks on key objectives under joint operational conditions, Shi said.

“With vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services engage in joint assaults to test their joint operations capabilities," he said.

It is a stern warning against "Taiwan Independence" separatist forces and external interference and a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity, he added.

No details were provided on the duration of the drills.

Taiwan denounced China's war games and said its military is on maximum alert.

“We strongly condemn the PRC’s irrational provocations and oppose the PLA’s actions that undermine regional peace. Rapid Response Exercises are underway, with forces on high alert to defend the Republic of China and protect our people,” the Ministry of National Defense said in a post on the US social media company X’s platform.

The exercises come amid heightened cross-strait tensions and follow a series of recent military activities by the PLA around Taiwan.