China Conducts Biggest Live Firing Drills Around Taiwan, Fires Rockets

China’s Eastern Theater Command is mounting the largest live firing drills yet around Taiwan in an operation named Justice Mission 2025, with major live fire activity concentrated on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. Authorities said the exercises began early Monday and would run through 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday, covering five large zones around the island and establishing seven temporary danger zones for rocket firing that closed airspace between 08:00 and 18:00 local time.

The drills involved a wide mix of People’s Liberation Army air, naval and missile assets, including fighter jets, bombers, long range rockets, destroyers, frigates, new assault ships, amphibious vessels and unmanned aerial vehicles. Chinese notices and media reports said live firing included a roughly 10 hour rocket launch period on the second day, with launches into waters to the north and south of Taiwan. Officials described exercises rehearsing a simulated blockade, strikes on seaborne targets and key ports, and operations designed to exercise anti access and area denial capabilities intended to impede resupply by external supporters.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported detecting more than 130 Chinese military aircraft and 22 navy and coast guard vessels operating around the island in the 24 hours up to 06:00 local time on Tuesday. Taiwan’s aviation authority said more than 100,000 international travelers would be affected by flight cancellations or diversions because of the temporary danger zones, a disruption with immediate consequences for airlines, logistics and business travel.

Beijing framed the drills as a response to a recent U.S. arms package, announced days earlier, valued at $11.1 billion. Chinese state media and Foreign Ministry commentary described the exercises as a warning to pro independence forces in Taiwan and criticized Japanese leaders for comments seen as encouraging regional intervention. Taiwan’s government placed its forces on alert, publicly warned that China was simulating strikes on U.S. made weapons, and called China "the biggest destroyer of peace." One report quoted a Taiwanese observer saying "This is an arms race Taiwan cannot possibly win."

Analysts see a clear operational logic in the scale and proximity of the drills. William Yang of Crisis Group noted that the exercises were focused on practicing blockade scenarios and sharpening anti access and area denial tools that would complicate resupply from allies such as Japan and the United States. This is the sixth major series of large scale war games China has staged around Taiwan since 2022, but officials and independent observers said this round was larger by area and closer to Taiwan than previous iterations.

Beyond immediate security implications, the drills carry economic risks. The Taiwan Strait is a critical artery for East Asian trade and Taiwan is central to global semiconductor production. Disruptions to air routes, regional shipping lanes and business confidence can transmit rapidly through supply chains and markets, raising transport costs and insurance premiums even if direct conflict is avoided. For policymakers the exercises sharpen the trade offs between military deterrence, arms sales and the risks of escalation that now shape economic and strategic planning across the region.