China Launches “Justice Mission-2025” Military Exercises Around Taiwan, Citing Sovereignty Defense

On December 29, 2025, China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command initiated a major joint military exercise dubbed “Justice Mission-2025” around the Taiwan Strait and adjacent airspace and waters, involving army, navy, air force, and rocket force units in live-fire drills and coordinated combat readiness operations. Chinese authorities stated the drills serve as a stern warning to “Taiwan independence separatist forces” and external powers, and are a necessary and justified action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Beijing framed the exercises as aimed at maintaining national unity and regional stability amid perceived external interference, while Taiwan condemned the drills and raised its alert status. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stated he was “not worried” about China’s maneuvers. The scale of the exercises, widely reported as among the largest near Taiwan in recent years, reflects Beijing’s growing emphasis on joint force capabilities and deterrence posture in cross-Strait tensions.