China Launches Second Day of Military Exercises Around Taiwan

Military Exercises Escalate Tensions

China has commenced the second day of military exercises surrounding Taiwan, marking a recent escalation of tensions regarding the self-governed island. The Chinese military announced on Tuesday that it has deployed naval destroyers, bombers, and other forces as part of these military maneuvers, which Beijing regards as directed against "separatist" and "external" forces.

The exercises are scheduled to include live-fire drills from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time in five maritime and aerial zones around Taiwan, alongside air and naval patrols, precision strike simulations, and anti-submarine maneuvers, according to China's state news agency. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense stated that some live-fire drills will occur in waters considered territorial by Taiwan, which is 12 nautical miles (22 km) from its coast.

Over 80 domestic flights have been canceled, many of which were headed to Taiwan's outlying islands, and more than 300 international flights may be delayed due to the re-routing of air traffic during the exercises, according to Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration.

The exercises, dubbed “Justice Mission 2025,” began on Monday morning and come just days after the United States announced the largest arms package to Taiwan, valued at $11.1 billion. China Daily noted that these drills are “part of a series of responses from Beijing to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and a warning to the Taiwanese authorities led by Lai Ching-te.”

The upcoming drills aim to ensure the capability of “access denial and area denial” to prevent Taiwan from receiving resources from allies like Japan and the U.S. during a conflict. They will also simulate the blockade of Taiwan's major ports from the north and south, as well as the takeover of strategic waterways such as the Bashi Canal and Miyako Strait, through which Taiwan imports the majority of its energy resources.

The Taiwan Ministry of Defense reported monitoring 130 air sorties of Chinese aircraft, 14 maritime vessels, and eight “official” ships between 6:00 AM on Monday and 6:00 AM on Tuesday. The exercises were also observed by Taiwanese coast guard vessels and an unspecified number of military ships, according to the Taiwan Ministry of Defense.