China is conducting major military drills around Taiwan, simulating the seizure and blockade of the island’s key areas in what it calls a warning against “separatist forces.”
The People’s Liberation Army announced the mobilization of its army, navy, air force, and rocket force for the exercises, which include live-fire drills.
Codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” the maneuvers come just days after the United States announced one of its largest-ever arms packages to Taiwan, valued at $11 billion (£8.2 billion). That sale prompted sharp protests from Beijing, which has since sanctioned several U.S. defense firms.
The drills also follow Taiwan’s efforts to significantly strengthen its own defenses this year—a move that has further angered Beijing, which claims the self-governed island as an inalienable part of its territory.
By James Kisoo
