PLA Taiwan Military Exercises 2025: The Hidden Qualitative Threat Behind Numbers

The sorties are fewer, but the threat is greater. Focusing solely on the number of aircraft crossing the median line might lead to a dangerous strategic miscalculation. According to reports from The Diplomat, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has fundamentally shifted its approach from quantitative expansion to qualitative sophistication.

PLA Taiwan Military Exercises 2025: From Quantity to Qualitative Transformation

Since Nancy Pelosi's visit in 2022, Beijing has weaponized large-scale drills as a form of political coercion. Following 2023's Joint Sword and 2024's Joint Sword A/B, the 2025 exercises—'Strait Thunder A' and 'Justice Mission'—signal a new 'military normal.' These aren't just isolated events; they've evolved into routine patrols conducted twice a month on average, effectively eroding Taiwan's strategic buffer.

Historically, Taiwan’s eastern coast was a secure strategic rear. That's no longer the case. With PLA aircraft carriers now operating regularly in the Western Pacific, Beijing doesn't need land-based aviation to strike Taiwan's eastern flank. This naval presence creates a 360-degree threat environment, forcing a complete overhaul of Taiwan's defense posture.

The Power of 'System-of-Systems' Operations

Modern warfare isn't a numbers game. Five J-10 fighters don't pose nearly as much danger as a coordinated formation of two J-16s supported by a KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft. Furthermore, the integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with long-range rocket systems enables 'sensor-to-shooter' operations that drastically shorten the kill chain.