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China Ends "Justice Mission 2025" Drills, Vows to Thwart Taiwan Separatism

The Chinese military has completed its "Justice Mission 2025" exercises around Taiwan, testing integrated joint operations capabilities. The drills are a direct response to a recent, record-breaking U.S. arms sale to Taiwan valued at over $11 billion. In retaliation, China has imposed immediate sanctions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 of their senior executives. Taiwan's defense ministry condemned the exercises as provocative actions threatening regional stability.

Key Points: China Completes Taiwan Strait Drills, Sanctions US Firms

  • Major military drills concluded
  • Response to US arms sale
  • Sanctions on US defense firms
  • Reaffirmation of sovereignty claims
2 min read

China ends exercise Justice Mission 2025 around Taiwan

China concludes major military exercises around Taiwan, announces sanctions on US defense firms following a record American arms sale to the island.

"resolutely thwart the attempts of 'Taiwan Independence' separatists and external intervention - Senior Captain Li Xi, PLA"

Beijing, December 31

The Chinese PLA Eastern Theatre Command completed the "Justice Mission 2025" Drills around Taiwan, the official press account of China's armed forces said on Wednesday.

In a post on X, China Military Bugle cited Senior Captain Li Xi, a spokesperson for the Chinese PLA Eastern Theatre Command.

"The PLA Eastern Theater Command has successfully completed 'Justice Mission 2025' military drills and fully tested the integrated joint operations capabilities of its troops. The troops of the PLA Eastern Theatre Command will remain on high alert at all times, keep strengthening combat readiness through arduous training, resolutely thwart the attempts of 'Taiwan Independence' separatists and external intervention, and firmly safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The drills, which have been codenamed 'Justice Mission 2025', involved the PLA Eastern Theatre Command dispatching its Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops to conduct joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan.

Taiwan's Minister of National Defence, Wellington Koo, said that the PLA's provocative actions threaten regional stability, as reported by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence on Tuesday.

The Justice Mission came shortly after the United States had approved a record-breaking arms sale of over USD 11 billion to Taiwan.

This includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, according to the US State Department. The potential sale of eight arms packages to Taiwan, including HIMARS rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, and drones, at an estimated total cost of US$11.1 billion, Focus Taiwan news outlet said.

Five of the eight arms packages -- the M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, TOW 2B anti-tank missiles, anti-armor drones, and FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles -- are covered in a USD39.85 billion special defence budget put forth last month by the Taiwan government, pending lawmakers' review, the Taiwanese news outlet said, quoting the country's Defence Ministry.

In response to Washington's decision to approve large-scale arms sales to Taiwan, China on Friday announced strong countermeasures against several US defence companies and senior executives.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it will impose sanctions on 20 US defence-related companies and 10 senior executives who have been involved in supplying weapons to Taiwan in recent years. The action has been taken under China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and will come into effect immediately.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priyanka N
The timing is everything. Right after the US arms sale announcement, China conducts these drills. It feels like a show of strength. For India, it's a reminder of how important it is to be self-reliant in defence. We cannot afford to be dependent on any foreign power for our security.
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Rahul R
Frankly, both sides are escalating the situation. China's "Justice Mission" and America's record arms sale. Where does this leave the ordinary people of Taiwan? And for countries like ours in the region, it just means more uncertainty. We need dialogue, not posturing.
S
Sarah B
Reading this from an Indian perspective, the PLA's integrated joint operations capability is something to note. The mention of Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force all working together is a significant display of military coordination. Our forces also need to focus on such seamless jointmanship.
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Aman W
China sanctions US companies, the US sells weapons, China holds drills. It's a cycle. While Taiwan's right to self-defence is understandable, the massive scale of this sale is provocative. As an Indian, I hope our government continues its balanced and independent foreign policy through all this.
K
Kriti O
The article mentions China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law. This is interesting. Nations are increasingly using economic tools as part of their strategic playbook. India should also develop robust legal and economic frameworks to protect its sovereign interests in such complex geopolitical games.

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