In a stark demonstration of military power, China fired missiles into waters near Taiwan during large-scale drills designed to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island. The exercises, part of the “Justice Mission 2025” campaign, took place on December 30, 2025, marking the second day of coordinated operations featuring live-fire rocket launches east of Taiwan.

The drills involved more than 50 warships and 100 aircraft, executing maneuvers intended to cut off access to key Taiwanese ports. Videos circulating from the exercises show multiple rocket contrails streaking across coastal skies, highlighting both the intensity and the close proximity of the drills to Taiwan’s maritime and airspace.

Authorities reported that the operations disrupted maritime and air traffic across seven designated zones, signaling the scale of the simulated blockade and the strategic focus on key shipping lanes. Analysts note that such drills serve both as a demonstration of China’s military reach and as a message of deterrence aimed at Taipei and international observers.

Taiwan’s defense forces monitored the exercises closely, emphasizing vigilance and readiness in response to potential threats. Regional experts warn that repeated high-profile drills in contested waters could heighten tensions in the Taiwan Strait and affect global trade routes passing through the area.

“Justice Mission 2025” underscores Beijing’s growing capability to project force near Taiwan, combining naval, air, and missile assets in operations that simulate realistic blockade scenarios, signaling a shift toward more assertive and visible regional military posturing.