China Ends 'Encirclement of Taiwan' Drills After Three Days... "All Missions Accomplished"

"We Will Thwart Taiwan Independence Separatist Forces"
China Responds to U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan

China concluded its military exercises around the waters near Taiwan on the 31st, three days after they began.

Li Xi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, announced on social media that "the 'Joint Sword 2025' exercises conducted by the Eastern Theater Command have successfully completed all missions," and added, "Through these exercises, we have comprehensively assessed the integrated joint operational capabilities of our units."

Chinese President Xi Jinping is speaking at the handover ceremony for the host country of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held at the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO) on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News

Spokesperson Li stated, "The theater command units are always maintaining a high state of alert and are continuously strengthening realistic training and combat readiness," and emphasized, "We will resolutely thwart attempts by Taiwan independence separatist forces and external forces to interfere, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Since the 29th, China has conducted large-scale military exercises encircling Taiwan, mobilizing ground, naval, air, and rocket forces. On the 30th, China also carried out large-scale live-fire drills, including launching rockets toward the northern and southern waters of Taiwan.

Some analysts suggest that these exercises are an expression of dissatisfaction following the recent approval by the United States of a plan to sell weapons to Taiwan worth 11.1 billion dollars (approximately 16.28 trillion won), the largest arms sale to Taiwan to date.