China announces ‘Justice Mission 2025’ around Taiwan: Why Beijing launched fresh drills after $11 billion US arms deal

An officer on Taiwan Coast Guard patrol ship Yilan observes a Chinese Coast Guard vessel northwest of Pengjia islet, in this handout image released December 29, 2025.

China launched large-scale military drills, Justice Mission 2025, around Taiwan, involving all major forces to signal readiness for force and protest a recent US arms sale to Taipei. The exercises aim to pressure Taiwan and warn against foreign intervention.

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China has launched a fresh round of large-scale military drills around Taiwan under an operation it has named Justice Mission 2025, sharply escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait and signalling Beijing’s growing readiness to use force as a tool of political messaging.

What is Justice Mission 2025

According to official Chinese statements, People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command has mobilised forces from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force to carry out joint exercises encircling Taiwan. The drills focus on sea and air combat readiness patrols, blockade operations and the seizure of battlefield superiority.

A spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command described the exercises as a “stern warning” and said they were a “necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Why China launched the drills now

The timing of Justice Mission 2025 is closely linked to Washington’s recent decision to approve an arms sale package worth about $11 billion to Taiwan. Beijing has strongly condemned the move, accusing the United States of encouraging separatist tendencies on the island.

China’s defence establishment said the arms sale sends a “wrong signal” to pro-independence forces in Taiwan and undermines stability in the region. Beijing reiterated its long-standing position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that foreign military support to Taipei crosses a red line.

What the exercises involve

The drills simulate joint operations across multiple domains. Chinese state media said the focus is on coordinated naval and air manoeuvres, precision strikes, maritime blockades and rapid response capabilities. The involvement of the Rocket Force highlights China’s emphasis on long-range strike power as part of any potential Taiwan contingency.

Military analysts note that such exercises are designed not only to test combat readiness but also to rehearse scenarios that could be used to isolate Taiwan in the event of a real conflict.

Becoming the new normal

Justice Mission 2025 is not an isolated event. The report notes that China has conducted several similar exercises in recent years, including operations named Joint Sword and Straight Thunder 2025A. These drills have increasingly normalised the presence of Chinese forces around Taiwan, reducing warning time and increasing pressure on Taipei.

By repeating such manoeuvres, Beijing appears to be shifting from symbolic shows of force to sustained military signalling, keeping Taiwan and its partners under constant strategic stress.

Regional and global implications

The drills underline how the Taiwan issue has become a flashpoint in the broader US-China rivalry. While China insists its actions are defensive, the scale and frequency of these exercises have raised concerns among regional players about miscalculation and escalation.

As Justice Mission 2025 unfolds, it reinforces Beijing’s message that it is prepared to use military power to back its claims, even as it warns external actors against deepening their involvement in Taiwan’s defence.