China’s military has announced a fresh round of joint exercises around Taiwan less than two weeks after the U.S. approved one of the largest-ever arms packages for sale to the island.
The drills—dubbed “Justice Mission 2025″—involves air, navy, and rocket forces, said Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command. He said the training would take place in the Taiwan Strait as well as to the north, east, southwest, southeast of the island.
Particular focus would be given to sea-air combat readiness patrols, simulated blockades of key Taiwanese ports, and “joint seizure of comprehensive superiority,” Shi said, calling it a legitimate and necessary action and a “stern warning against ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and external forces.”
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as as its own, although the Communist Party in Beijing has never ruled the island since coming to power in the Chinese mainland in 1949. Taipei, meanwhile, counts the United States as its strongest international backer and its main arms supplier.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
