China Holds Military Drills Near Taiwan After U.S. Arms Deal
The Chinese flag is seen during sunset on Pingtan island, the closest point to Taiwan in eastern China’s Fujian province, on December 29, 2025. Credit – Adek Berry—AFP/Getty Images
China launched massive military exercises near Taiwan on Monday, following a statement from the Trump Administration in what it described as a “stern warning” against separatist and “foreign interference” forces. Arms sales worth $11.1 billion to the island earlier this month.
China’s Eastern Front Command announced that the Chinese military’s “Justice Mission 2025” exercises (its first major exercises around the island since April) will include combat readiness and port blockade exercises, complete with live fire and simulated land and sea attacks across seven regions on the island, in part to deter foreign intervention.
Taiwan has been self-governing since 1949, after Nationalist forces fled to the island following their defeat by Chinese communist forces. But China has maintained that it has sovereignty over Taiwan and has long called for “reunification” between the tiny territory and the People’s Republic of China.
Eastern Theater Command spokesman Senior Colonel Shi Yi said the drills were a stern warning against “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and foreign intervention forces, and called the military action a “necessary” move to protect China’s “sovereignty and national unity.”
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said the drills “further confirmed” the nature of the Chinese Communist Party as “an aggressor and the greatest destroyer of peace.”
China is operating dozens of planes and drones around the Taiwan Strait in exercises, according to Hsieh Jih-sheng, deputy chief of staff for intelligence at Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense. According to the island’s Ministry of Transport, more than 100,000 passengers on international flights will be affected by the actions of the Chinese military.
Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said military drills were expected to continue until Tuesday.
Read more: How Can Trump Avoid the Taiwan War?
The drills took place after China expressed anger last US $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan includes high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and harpoon missile repair related equipment. The United States previously approved arms sales worth more than $1 billion to Taiwan in November.
Last week, China’s foreign ministry imposed sanctions against 20 US defense firms following the sales, banning companies such as Boeing from doing business with the global superpower. Ten executives of these companies were also banned from entering China or doing business in the country as part of the sanctions.
The State Department notified Congress that it had approved the large-scale sale to Taiwan less than two weeks ago, saying the potential deal “serves the national, economic, and security interests of the United States by supporting the recipient’s efforts to modernize its armed forces and maintain a credible defense capability.”
“Recommended sale[s] The ministry’s statement continued: “It will help increase the recipient’s security and help maintain political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region.”
Taiwan presidential office stated While he stated that he was “sincerely grateful” for the sale announced at the time, China quickly condemned He claimed that it was undermining China’s sovereignty and security and disrupting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
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