IRIA News

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The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command launched a series of coordinated military drills off the north, south, and east coasts of Taiwan on April 1, 2025.

The exercises, which have not been given a formal name by Beijing, are being portrayed as a “stern warning” against separatism by Taiwan’s government.

China’s Eastern Theatre Command provided the details of the ongoing drills, stating that the drills involved a comprehensive deployment of ships, aircraft, and artillery. The military exercises aimed to simulate a blockade of the island, execute strikes on ground and maritime targets, and conduct air interception operations to “test forces’ coordination in combat.”

The command stated that these maneuvers were designed to send a strong signal to Taiwan amid escalating tensions in the region.

Reaction to Hegseth’s visit

The drills follow U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent Asia visit, during which he repeatedly criticized Beijing. A senior Taiwan security official told media reporters that Beijing’s actions were intended to avoid any “perceived confrontation” with Washington before upcoming U.S.-China trade talks, using Taiwan as a pretext. “Taiwan is their best excuse. That’s why they chose to launch such military drills as soon as the U.S. defense secretary left Asia,” the official said.

Taiwan’s government has responded firmly to these provocations. The presidential office condemned the drills, stating that China was “widely recognized by the international community as a troublemaker” and emphasizing the island’s confidence in its ability to defend itself.

In addition, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that more than 10 Chinese military ships had approached within its 24 nautical mile (44 km) contiguous zone, prompting Taiwan to dispatch its warships to intercept.

The ministry confirmed that while no live fire had been detected, the exercise involved at least 71 Chinese military aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and drones, as well as 13 navy ships. Taiwanese Ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang warned that Taiwan’s armed forces had elevated their readiness level to ensure that China does not “turn drills into combat” and “launch a sudden attack on us.”

Chinese military videos

Meanwhile, the Chinese military released several videos related to the drills across state-run social media platforms. One video, accompanied by a poster titled “Closing In,” showed Chinese warships and fighter jets circling Taiwan, while another, titled “Shell,” depicted Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te as a green cartoon bug being held by chopsticks over a burning Taiwan.

The video was captioned, “Parasite poisoning Taiwan island. Parasite hollowing out. Parasite courting ultimate destruction.” These stark images and messages have fueled tension in the region and have drawn sharp criticism from Taiwanese officials.

Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo decried the inflammatory language, stating that such rhetoric “shows their provocative character” and is not conducive to peace. Koo added that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) should address internal issues such as corruption instead of jeopardizing regional peace and stability.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespeople defended the drills as “legitimate and necessary actions to defend national sovereignty and safeguard national unity.” PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command spokesman, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, described the exercises as a “stern warning and forceful deterrent against Taiwan independence separatist forces.”

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, asserted confidently, “China’s reunification is an unstoppable trend, it will happen, and it must happen.”

Geopolitical significance

With Taiwan’s government rejecting Beijing’s sovereignty claims over the island and insisting that only its people can decide their future, the drills underscore the deep-seated divisions and simmering tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan’s strategic response has included the activation of land-based missile systems and the deployment of its own naval and air assets. Additionally, the presence of China’s Shandong aircraft carrier group near Taiwan’s response zone has further escalated the situation, highlighting the scale of Beijing’s show of force.

The heightened military activity coincides with broader strategic maneuvers in the region. Just days prior, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth criticized China’s actions during his visits to Japan and the Philippines, labelling Beijing’s conduct as irresponsible.

The American Institute in Taiwan reaffirmed that the United States will continue to support Taiwan, emphasizing that China’s aggressive moves risk destabilizing regional security and prosperity.

Economic implications

As Taiwan’s stock market brushed off the tensions with a 2.8% rise on Tuesday, it became clear that the economic and political ramifications of these drills could extend well beyond military posturing.

The increasing frequency of joint military drills by the PLA has been described by military scholars and economic experts as becoming “everyday business,” indicating a normalization of high-intensity military operations around Taiwan.