Defense Ministry Reports Dozens of PLA Ships, Aircraft on First Day of Drill
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported dozens of Chinese ships, aircraft, and drones near the country's main island as Beijing initiates its “Justice Mission 2025” military drills, set to begin Tuesday. The exercises come a day after President Lai Ching-te called for increased defense spending.
REPORTER:
Taiwan’s air force reacts to a surprise Chinese military drill on Monday morning.
Taiwan’s air force:
Attention Chinese military aircraft in Taiwan’s southwest airspace at an altitude of 6,000 meters. You have entered our airspace affecting our flight safety. Turn around and leave immediately.
Chinese Air Force:
Taiwanese military aircraft you have entered our exercise airspace affecting our normal flight operations please leave immediately.
REPORTER:
China's People’s Liberation Army has designated five restricted zones around Taiwan as part of drills it’s calling “Justice Mission 2025.” They later added two more. Beijing says live-fire exercises will start Tuesday morning, in several areas around Taiwan — including off the port of Keelung in the north.
It’s the fourth round of Chinese drills targeting Taiwan since President Lai Ching-te took office last May, and the sixth since then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited in 2022.
Taiwan is condemning the move as an irrational provocation.
Lt. Gen. Lien Chih-wei (DEFENSE MINISTRY):
The military immediately drove off [the incursions] according to emergency response regulations. And based on the scope of the threat we’ve already established an emergency response center and ordered military units to carry out combat readiness drills in case China’s exercises turn into an attack. We will continue to monitor the threat posed by China’s exercises and adapt accordingly.
REPORTER:
China’s foreign ministry said that it is resolute in its determination to defend national sovereignty, and any act of provocation regarding Taiwan would be met with a “firm counterattack.” This comes a day after Lai called for increased investment in defense amid rising threats from China during a TV interview.
Lai Ching-te (TAIWAN PRESIDENT):
So far [China] does not possess the capability [to invade]. But we cannot become complacent. We must continue to strengthen our defensive capabilities and improve our “porcupine” strategy to deter them.
REPORTER:
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an also condemned the drills, after returning from the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum, one of the only channels that currently exist for cross-strait communication.
Chiang Wan-an (TAIPEI MAYOR):
I strongly condemn any actions that escalate regional conflict.
REPORTER:
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which governs relations with China, said that the surprise drills right after the Twin Cities Forum, run counter to the spirit of “peace through dialogue” that the meeting promoted, saying the Chinese Communist Party proclaims “both sides of the Strait belong to one family, but they point their swords at Taiwan.”
REPORTER:
The latest drills come amid rising regional tensions — between China and Japan, and just days after the US announced its biggest ever weapons deal for Taiwan. With Beijing once again using military exercises to push its claim over Taiwan, Taipei will have to find ways to respond to the growing pressure.
