China launches two days of live-fire military exercises around Taiwan, triggering ‘rapid response exercise’ in Taipei

China launched live-fire exercises around Taiwan on Monday that it said would simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island’s main ports, prompting Taipei to condemn Beijing’s “military intimidation.”

These exercises “once again confirm (China’s) nature as an aggressor, making it the greatest destroyer of peace,” Taipei’s defense ministry said.

Taiwan’s military said it had established a response center, deployed “appropriate forces” and “conducted a rapid response exercise.”

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out the use of military action to seize the island democracy.
Beijing’s latest show of force follows announcement earlier this month of record arms sales to Taiwan of more than $10 billion by the United States, Taiwan’s main security supporter, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, saying their military could get involved if China were to act against Taiwan. But the Chinese military did not mention the United States or Japan in its statement Monday morning.

China said it was conducting “live-fire training on maritime targets north and southwest of Taiwan” as part of large-scale exercises involving destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and drones.

A military spokesperson said earlier that Beijing would send troops from the army, navy, air force and rocket forces for “major military exercises” dubbed “Mission Justice 2025.”

The activities will focus on “air-sea combat readiness patrols, jointly seizing overall superiority, blockading key ports and areas, as well as multi-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain,” said Col. Shi Yi of the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command.

Chinese authorities also released a map on Tuesday of five large areas around Taiwan where new live-fire activities would take place for ten hours.

“For security reasons, any non-affected vessel or aircraft are advised not to enter the above-mentioned waters and airspace,” the statement said.

Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo condemned China’s “disregard for international norms and use of military intimidation to threaten neighboring countries.”

Taipei said Monday it had detected four Chinese coast guard vessels sailing off its northern and eastern coasts.

Its coast guard said it had “immediately deployed large vessels to preposition interventions in the affected areas” and “sent additional support units”.