Beijing/Taipei: China’s military conducted long-range live-fire drills in the East China Sea on Wednesday, marking an escalation in its ongoing exercises around Taiwan. The drills, according to Chinese authorities, were aimed at simulating precision strikes on critical port and energy infrastructure.
The exercises follow heightened rhetoric from Beijing against Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, whom Chinese officials labeled a “parasite” on Tuesday. The drills also coincide with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent visit to Asia, during which he issued repeated criticisms of China’s military actions.
China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, has consistently denounced Lai as a “separatist.” Lai, who assumed office last year after winning the presidential election, has rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims, asserting that Taiwan’s future is for its people to decide.
Precision Strikes and Military Posturing
China’s Eastern Theatre Command confirmed that its ground forces conducted long-range live-fire drills as part of the “Strait Thunder-2025A” exercise. The command stated, “The drills involve precision strikes on simulated targets of key ports and energy facilities, and have achieved desired effects,” without providing further details or specifying the exact location of the drills.
Taiwan’s government has condemned China’s military maneuvers. A senior Taiwanese security official informed Reuters that more than 10 Chinese warships entered Taiwan’s “response zone” on Wednesday morning. Additionally, China’s coast guard participated in “harassment” drills, intensifying pressure on Taiwan’s defenses.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported that, over the past 24 hours, 76 Chinese military aircraft and 15 warships had been involved in operations near Taiwan. While China did not formally name its exercises on Tuesday, previous large-scale war games in the region were designated “Joint Sword-2024A” and “Joint Sword-2024B.”
Deployment of Advanced Weaponry
Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times, affiliated with the Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, highlighted the deployment of sophisticated military equipment during the drills. Images released by the military showcased YJ-21 air-launched ballistic missiles mounted under H-6K bombers.
The H-6K is an extended-range strike aircraft, while the YJ-21 is a cutting-edge anti-ship missile system. Variants of the H-6 bomber, some capable of carrying nuclear weapons, have been involved in previous Chinese drills around Taiwan and have also been sighted in the South China Sea.
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China has previously conducted military exercises simulating precision strikes and blockades targeting Taiwan. These drills are widely perceived as a demonstration of Beijing’s capability to exert military pressure on the island.
International Condemnation
The United States, Taiwan’s primary international supporter and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, condemned China’s actions. In a statement, the U.S. State Department warned, “Once again, China’s aggressive military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan only serve to exacerbate tensions and put the region’s security and the world’s prosperity at risk.”
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Japan and the European Union also voiced concerns. A spokesperson for the EU stated, “The EU has a direct interest in the preservation of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any unilateral actions that change the status quo by force or coercion.”
Historical Context and Regional Tensions
Taiwan has faced the threat of a potential Chinese invasion since 1949, when the Republic of China government retreated to the island following its defeat in the Chinese Civil War against Mao Zedong’s communist forces. Despite decades of political and military tensions, there has been no direct exchange of fire between the two sides in recent history.
