The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) dispatched fighter jets, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in coordination with long-range rocket forces to conduct drills code-named "Justice Mission 2025" in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan Island, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the theater command, Anadolu Agency reported.
The exercises are focused on striking mobile ground targets and aim to test the PLA’s ability to conduct precise attacks on key objectives under joint operational conditions, Shi said.
“With vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services engage in joint assaults to test their joint operations capabilities," he said.
The PLA drills are being held after the Trump administration, early this month, announced eight new arms packages for Taiwan totaling well over $11 billion, in a one-time record sale to Taipei.
Beijing also sanctioned at least 20 US defense firms and 10 senior executives over the arms sale to the island.
It is a stern warning against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external interference and a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity, said Shi, the PLA official.
No details were provided on the duration of the drills.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the drills were “severe punishment against ‘Taiwanese independent separatists’ forces' attempt to seek independence through military buildup.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of turning the island into a “powder keg” and an “ammunition depot” and “destroying peace.”
“The external forces' attempt to use Taiwan to contain China and arm Taiwan will only embolden the Taiwan independence separatists and push the Taiwan Strait towards the danger of military conflict,” Lin warned.
Stressing Taiwan was at the “core of China’s core interests,” Lin said any move to cross the line “will face a resolute head-on blow from China. “Any ill intention to stop China’s reunification is doomed to fail.”