Defense Ministry Breaks Down China's Latest Military Drills Around Taiwan
Last week's "Justice Mission 2025" military exercises saw China conducting drills in the air and waters around Taiwan as well as widespread cyberattacks, defense officials told lawmakers. They pointed to a recent Taiwan-US arms sale, Beijing-Tokyo tensions and US reporting on China's military as motivating factors behind Beijing's actions.
Chinese Military Drills: Attempt to Isolate Taiwan
REPORTER:
Taiwan’s defense minister Wellington Koo and other officials are facing questions from lawmakers on China’s Justice Mission 2025 military drills, and what Taiwan’s armed forces learned from them.
REPORTER:
Defense officials say China carried out the drills to weaken international support for Taiwan. They point to the US’s latest national security strategy, its report on China’s military power, as well as ongoing tensions between Beijing and Tokyo as key factors.
Lt. Gen. Lien Chih-wei (DEPUTY OPERATIONS & PLANNING CHIEF, DEFENSE MINISTRY):
[China’s drills] seriously undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. They posed significant threats to international shipping, trade and flight safety.
REPORTER:
Beyond displays of military power, Taiwan also faced millions of cyberattacks. Officials confirmed that during the drills, China spread thousands of messages across social media, many using AI generated content. They sought to amplify negative narratives about the US, Taiwan’s armed forces, and President Lai Ching-te.
Lt. Gen. Chien Hua-ching (DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU):
Between Dec. 29 and Jan. 2 the Chinese Communist Party spread more than 19,000 controversial messages across social media platforms.
This was information warfare intended to undermine public confidence in our self-defense and weaken support from international allies.
On the first day of the exercises cyberattacks reached 2.08 million.
Increasing to 2.09 million on the second day.
REPORTER:
The foreign ministry also spoke to lawmakers, highlighting the support Taiwan has received from like-minded countries. Taiwanese diplomats spoke out publicly in support of peace, and international media reported that China is seeking to establish a “new normal” by more frequently using military intimidation against nearby countries.
REPORTER:
With these drills, Taiwan now faces an ever-growing military threat from China. Yet the global attention they drew may have had an unintended effect, emboldening Taiwan and its partners to double-down on deterrence and cooperation.
Eason Chen and Lery Hiciano, in Taipei for TaiwanPlus.
