China expanded its largest ever military drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, firing rockets into nearby waters and deploying amphibious assault ships, bomber aircraft, and naval destroyers in what Beijing described as a rehearsal for a potential blockade of the island.
The exercises, which Chinese officials say include live fire operations, marked the second day of sweeping maneuvers encircling the democratically governed territory and raised fresh concerns in Taipei about further escalation.
China’s Eastern Theatre Command said the drills would continue until 6 p.m. local time and would affect airspace and waters in five zones surrounding Taiwan. In a video released by the military, a mobile PCH 191 rocket launcher appeared to fire rounds into the sea from a location inside mainland China.
According to the Chinese military, naval and air force units also rehearsed strikes against maritime and aerial targets near Taiwan, along with anti submarine operations to the island’s north and south. The drills have been named Justice Mission 2025.
The war games began less than two weeks after Washington announced a record 11.1 billion dollar arms sale to Taiwan, a move Beijing strongly opposed. Analysts say the scope and proximity of the drills make them the most extensive by area and the closest yet to Taiwan.
A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters that authorities are monitoring whether China will again fire missiles over the island, as it did in 2022 following a visit by then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The official added that the exercises appear to include practice strikes against land based systems such as the US made HIMARS rocket launcher, which Taiwan operates and which has a range of about 300 kilometers.
China’s PCH 191 rocket system is considered comparable in range to HIMARS and was prominently displayed during Beijing’s military parade marking the end of World War Two earlier this year. Chinese state media has reported that the system is capable of striking targets anywhere on Taiwan.
Military analysts say the inclusion of amphibious ships and bomber aircraft suggests Beijing is testing coordination across multiple branches of its armed forces.
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Taiwan’s President Lai Ching said frontline forces were on high alert but stressed that Taipei was not seeking to inflame tensions.
“Our frontline troops are fully prepared to defend the island,” Lai wrote on Facebook, adding that Taiwan remained committed to stability in the region.
China views Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim rejected by the government in Taipei. The latest drills underscore the fragile state of cross Strait relations as military pressure continues to intensify.
