"Record-Breaking Scale in Terms of Training Area"
Some International Flights Delayed or Canceled... About 100,000 Passengers Affected
On the second day of the Chinese military's "Taiwan Encirclement Exercise," live-fire drills were conducted, including the launch of rockets in the northern waters of Taiwan.
On the 30th (local time), as the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted a military encirclement exercise around Taiwan, a Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jet was flying at Hsinchu Air Base in Taiwan. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
On December 30 (local time), the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army announced that forces including destroyers, frigates, and fighter-bombers had conducted exercises in the northern and southern waters off Taiwan, focusing on verification and identification, warning and expulsion, simulated strikes, maritime assaults, and air defense and anti-submarine operations. The command stated, "We have verified the joint and integrated blockade capabilities of the navy and air force."
The Eastern Theater Command began the encirclement exercise around Taiwan the previous day, mobilizing army, navy, air force, and rocket force units. The command further stated, "At 9 a.m. on the 30th, army units carried out long-range live-fire drills targeting the northern waters off Taiwan and achieved the expected results."
According to Reuters, the China Maritime Safety Administration designated two additional live-fire zones the previous day, making this "Joint Sword 2025" exercise the largest ever in terms of training area.
The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense reported that, in the 24 hours up to 6 a.m. that day, it detected 130 Chinese military aircraft and 22 Chinese naval vessels near Taiwan. In addition, the Civil Aeronautics Administration of Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation announced that from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day, seven temporary danger zones would be established around the Taiwan Strait, prohibiting aircraft entry. As a result, the Civil Aeronautics Administration explained that around 100,000 passengers would be affected due to delays and cancellations of some international flights.
This Chinese military exercise comes eight months after the "Strait Thunder-2025A" drill held in early April, and was prompted by the United States' approval on December 18 of a record $11.1054 billion arms sale to Taiwan. In a statement the previous day, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense responded to questions about whether the exercise was aimed at U.S.-Taiwan arms deals by saying, "Recently, external forces have repeatedly crossed the line on the Taiwan issue, seriously undermining China's sovereignty and security, and destroying peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." The ministry added, "This exercise is a stern warning against Taiwan independence forces and external interference."
The Chinese military has repeatedly conducted encirclement exercises around Taiwan in response to statements by the Taiwanese president or exchanges between Taiwan and the United States and other "external forces." Since the first exercise in August 2022, triggered by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, there have been a total of seven "Taiwan Encirclement Exercises" up to now. There were two such exercises in both 2023 and last year, and earlier this year, in early April, a military exercise was conducted immediately after President Lai defined China as a "hostile force," putting a halt to cross-strait exchanges.
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