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China has begun military drills around Taiwan, simulating seizures and blockades in crucial areas as a direct warning to "separatist forces." The exercises, called "Justice Mission 2025", involve the army, navy, air force, and rocket force and include live-fire activities. These drills follow a recent US decision to sell a significant arms package to Taiwan for around 13 billion USD, sparking protests from Beijing and sanctions against US defence companies.

 

Taiwan's government has condemned the drills, viewing them as a violation of international norms, and it has detected a Chinese military presence in the vicinity. In response, Taiwan's defence ministry has heightened its military readiness, deploying forces and missile systems to monitor the situation. On social media, China's Eastern Theater Command referred to their exercises as a "shield of justice" aimed at obliterating any independence movements.

 

As China insists on using "non-peaceful means" if necessary to prevent Taiwan's formal secession, tensions continue to escalate. Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, has reiterated the island's status as a sovereign nation and committed to maintaining peace without provocation. Recent polls indicate that the majority of Taiwanese citizens prefer to maintain the "status quo" rather than formally declare independence or unify with China.

 

These developments occur amid historical tensions, as seen in China's increased military activities following events like Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022. The ongoing drills come under the leadership of Yang Zhibin, the new chief of the Eastern Theater Command. Taiwan, for its part, has been conducting extensive military exercises to prepare for potential conflicts, and it has plans to enhance its defence systems against perceived threats.

 

China's relationships with neighbouring countries, like Japan, have also deteriorated following recent statements and military incidents. The ongoing tensions underscore the fragile stability in the region, with both China and Taiwan continuing to assert their positions, reported the BBC.

 

Key Takeaways:

• China conducts military drills around Taiwan as a warning, amid US arms sale tensions.
• Taiwan detects Chinese military activity and deploys forces to counter threats.
• Regional stability is fragile, with increasing military postures from both China and Taiwan.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-12-29

 

 

 

Taiwan is a beautiful island, and it's people are hardworking, friendly, fun-loving and brave. I just hope that the USA, and the west generally, will never relinquish their support for a Taiwan free of the threat from China.

Does Taiwan have rare Earth's? No?

Don't expect the US to help.

That would never have happened under Trump! 

So, let me get this right. Trump says China is the enemy & institutes, dunno, 3549% tariffs.

 

But China needs weapons and shareholders in American arms companies need money so somehow (legally?) these weapons are bought by China, filling some Americans' Xmas stockings.

 

So China, Trump's enemy, then goads Taiwan, long a US ally, with US weaponry. Sounds like what Trump is doing to Venezuela.

Hopefully China will never be allowed to take over possession of and control of Taiwan. The population of Taiwan are good people who left China for very good reasons, and had no interest in being subjected to a genocidal street thug like Mao, nor the highly corrupt CCP today. 

Don't worry! 

 

'No worries': Trump downplays Chinese military drills around Taiwan

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxwxkeg9w6o

China always plays the big tough guy when in reality they’re an export economy. Go ahead, attack Taiwan and you’ll get almost universal global sanctions, which will put your economy down the sh.tter within 6 months! Let’s see how big you’ll be after that! 

Newsflash for the extremely ignorant ...

 

TAIWAN is a province of CHINA  

 

 

 

On 12/30/2025 at 1:08 PM, Purdey said:

Does Taiwan have rare Earth's? No?

Don't expect the US to help.

Not sure about that. Up to now the USA has been highly supportive of Taiwan.

No one seems to have noticed the Chinese seizure of a merchant ship in straight of Taiwan

allegedly carrying HIMARS missiles destined for Taiwan.

2 hours ago, johng said:

No one seems to have noticed the Chinese seizure of a merchant ship in straight of Taiwan

allegedly carrying HIMARS missiles destined for Taiwan.

Did it actually happen? Link?

On 12/30/2025 at 4:26 PM, pacovl46 said:

Go ahead, attack Taiwan and you’ll get almost universal global sanctions, which will put your economy down the sh.tter within 6 months!

Will the Europeans enact sanctions? I for sure doubt that Brazil and any Latin American states, including Argentina, will do so.

3 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Will the Europeans enact sanctions?

Well they are stupid enough to cut of their nose to spite Putin so I have no doubt they would do the same for China except without stuff from China it will be like cutting off their arms and legs too !

3 minutes ago, johng said:

Well they are stupid enough to cut of their nose to spite Putin so I have no doubt they would do the same for China except without stuff from China it will be like cutting off their arms and legs too !

How dependent are they on Chinese trade? More than Russian trade or energy, I would guess. They can easily replace the latter, but a trade embargo (and that's the only thing that would be effective, a total trade embargo) will sink them. Even as Chinese EVs (with tariffs) continue to decimate the German auto industry, the Germans want to expand China trade. Is it possible that this entire question boils down to whose population, the West or China, is willing to undergo economic hardship and severe financial disruption?

21 minutes ago, johng said:

Well they are stupid enough to cut of their nose to spite Putin so I have no doubt they would do the same for China except without stuff from China it will be like cutting off their arms and legs too !

Russia is an economic dwarf and they don't really need it. It's quite different with China. On top of it, there's nothing to motivate them to help Trump on this matter.

11 hours ago, John Drake said:

Will the Europeans enact sanctions? I for sure doubt that Brazil and any Latin American states, including Argentina, will do so.

Yeah, wait and see I guess.