China Launches "Justice Mission 2025" Military Drills Around Taiwan, Heightening Regional Tensions
On May 29, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) commenced a large-scale military exercise, "Justice Mission 2025," in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas of Taiwan Island. The PLA Eastern Theater Command announced that the exercise serves as a "stern warning to Taiwan independence forces and external interference forces," and its objective is seen as maximizing pressure on Taiwan. This exercise involves land, sea, air, and rocket forces, encircling Taiwan's northern, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern waters. A particular focus of the training is the seizure of sea and air control and the blockade of major ports, with live-fire drills scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM on May 30. The exercise is expected to conclude by the end of the same day. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense strongly condemned the PLA's actions as a "challenge to international order" and a demonstration of "the true nature of the biggest disturber of pe...