Justice Mission 2025: China Simulates Full Blockade of Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions
On December 30, 2025, China completed Justice Mission 2025, a major military drill encircling Taiwan. The exercise simulated a total blockade following a record US arms sale.
They’re talking trade, but preparing for a blockade. China has just wrapped up 'Justice Mission 2025', a massive two-day military drill that simulated a total encirclement of Taiwan as of December 30, 2025. Marking the sixth large-scale war game since the 2022 Pelosi visit, these exercises explicitly focused on cutting off the island's vital maritime links.
Justice Mission 2025: Simulating a Total Port Blockade
The military maneuvers featured 10 hours of live-fire drills on Tuesday, focusing on blockading major ports like Keelung and Kaohsiung. The Eastern Theatre Command deployed a formidable fleet, including naval destroyers, fighter planes, and long-range missiles. According to Taiwan's Ministry of Defence, they tracked 130 air sorties and 14 naval ships within a single 24-hour window.
What makes this drill different is the sheer scale and proximity. Some zones reached within 12 nautical miles of Taiwan's coast, effectively breaching territorial waters. Analysts suggest this is a clear demonstration of 'Anti-Access/Area Denial' (A2/AD) capabilities, aimed at proving that Beijing can isolate the island from allies like the US and Japan.
Arms Deals and Diplomatic Tensions Fuel Escalation
Beijing's aggression isn't happening in a vacuum. It follows Washington's approval of a record-breaking $11.1bn arms sale to Taipei. Furthermore, remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi—who claimed an attack on Taiwan would threaten Japan's survival—have further incensed the Chinese leadership. China's Foreign Ministry called the drills a "punitive action" against separatist forces.
Trump's Pragmatism vs. Regional Stability
President Donald Trump has remained remarkably quiet, telling reporters he's "not worried" because of his relationship with President Xi Jinping. Critics and analysts, including those from the International Crisis Group, argue that Trump is de-prioritizing the Taiwan issue to protect a potential trade deal expected in April. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Defence Minister Wellington Koo warned that these provocative actions are a form of "cognitive warfare" designed to divide Taiwanese society.
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