China Launches “Justice Mission 2025” Around Taiwan: Simulated Port Blockade Underway

New Delhi, December 29, 2025: Tensions in the Taiwan Strait reached a new peak on Monday, December 29, 2025, as China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched large-scale, live-fire military exercises surrounding Taiwan. Codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” the drills simulate a full-scale “joint blockade” of the island’s most critical maritime gateways.

A Multi-Front Show of Force

The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command announced that the exercises involve a massive mobilization of the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces. According to military spokespeople, the maneuvers are focused on:

• Sea-Air Combat Readiness: Constant patrols to seize “comprehensive superiority” in the region.
• Port Blockades: Specific simulations aimed at sealing off major ports, including Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south, which are vital for Taiwan’s trade and energy imports.
• Precision Strikes: Testing the ability to hit mobile ground targets and maritime assets using long-range rockets and drones.

The Chinese military released a map showing five distinct “danger zones” encircling the island, warning all commercial vessels and aircraft to stay clear of these areas for the duration of the live-fire phase.

Why Now? The Geopolitical Trigger

Beijing has characterized the drills as a “stern warning” against what it calls “separatist forces” and “external interference.” Analysts point to two major catalysts for this sudden escalation:

1. U.S. Arms Sales: Earlier this month, the United States approved a record $11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan, including HIMARS rocket systems and advanced drones.
2. Japan’s New Stance: Recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi—suggesting that Japan could intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked—have infuriated Beijing, leading to a sharp diplomatic fallout.

Taiwan and the International Response

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has “strongly condemned” the move, describing it as an irrational provocation that threatens regional stability. In response, Taipei has:

• Activated its own “Rapid Response Exercises.”
• Deployed missile defense units and naval vessels to monitor Chinese movements.
• Placed its military on high alert while urging the public to remain calm.

Despite the military activity, Taiwan’s stock market remained resilient, even hitting a record high in morning trading—a sign of the “normalized” state of tension the island has lived under for years.

What’s Next?

The live-fire portion of the drills is scheduled to intensify through Tuesday, with restrictions remaining in place across the five designated zones. International observers are closely watching to see if the PLA will cross the “median line” of the Taiwan Strait or enter Taiwan’s contiguous zone, moves that could risk a direct confrontation.