Continuing its 'Justice Mission 2025' exercises launched on December 29, the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command held the second day of drills on December 30, featuring live-fire operations simulating maritime attacks and anti-air and anti-submarine missions north and south of Taiwan. The manoeuvres serve as a warning to 'independence forces' and external interference. Taiwan's defence ministry detected a record 130 PLA aircraft, 14 ships, and eight coastguard vessels near the island in the prior 24 hours.
The 'Justice Mission 2025' drills, which began on December 29 with far-seas patrols, aerial confrontations, and sea-air assaults east and southwest of Taiwan, entered their second day on December 30 with live-fire components.
Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesman for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said ground forces conducted long-range firepower strikes that achieved intended results. Troops simulated attacks on maritime targets north and south of the island, alongside anti-air and anti-submarine operations. In northern and southwestern Taiwan Strait areas, destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers, UAVs, and long-range rocket forces coordinated to hunt targets, strike ground positions, and perform live firing, testing integrated dominance. In central Taiwan Strait waters, fighters, bombers, UAVs, and rocket forces hit mobile ground targets to assess precision strikes.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi noted emphasis on long-distance raids and joint precision strikes.
Taiwan’s defence ministry reported the highest single-day detections this year: about 130 aircraft, 14 ships, and eight 'official' vessels—likely coastguard—up to 6am Tuesday, per South China Morning Post data.