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China raised military pressure on Taiwan this Tuesday on the second and last day of the 'Mission Justice-2025' maneuvers, with "long-range live-fire" exercises north and south of the island, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised "firm countermeasures" against the "provocations" of Taiwanese "separatism" and arms sales from the United States to Taipei.
The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA, Chinese Army) reported live-fire drills starting at 09:00 hours (01:00 GMT) in waters north of Taiwan and, four hours later, a new similar training to the south, in addition to a simulated long-range joint attack with units of the Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force. In images spread on Weibo, a multiple rocket launcher system, probably the PHL-16, is seen firing salvos that impact the sea. You can also read: Russian hypersonic system Oréshnik enters service in Belarus According to the military command, destroyers, frigates, fighters, and bombers were deployed this Tuesday to execute attack and assault simulations against maritime targets, as well as anti-aircraft and anti-submarine operations north and south of the island, with the aim of testing air-sea coordination capabilities and "integrated blockade and control." The command also reported exercises east of Taiwan focused on "multidimensional" power projection and the seizure of "key ports." Taiwan calls for calm and denounces "intimidation". Taiwan confirmed the live-fire drills and noted that the projectiles, fired by the PLA's long-range artillery deployed in China's Fujian province, impacted near the 24-nautical-mile line off its coast. Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo oversaw the device from the Joint Operations Command Center and denounced that China "ignores international norms" and resorts to military "intimidation", with risks to air routes and commercial navigation. In its latest report, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) indicated that between 6:00 a.m. Monday and 6:00 a.m. this Tuesday, it detected 130 Chinese warplanes around the island - the second highest daily figure recorded - as well as 14 military ships and eight official vessels operating nearby. Taiwan's President William Lai asked the population to "remain calm" and assured that the armed forces will act "responsibly" and "without escalating the conflict," while calling not to be deceived by misinformation. Impact on flights and coast guardFor its part, the Taiwanese Civil Aviation Administration warned of delays in international flights and canceled 84 domestic routes, 68 to Kinmen and 16 to Matsu, archipelagos near the Chinese coast. Taiwan's Coast Guard, in turn, stated that it deployed 14 patrol boats after detecting 14 Chinese coast guard vessels harassing surrounding waters and areas near restricted lines. In diplomatic terms, the Chinese Foreign Minister stated today in Beijing that Taiwan is "an internal matter of China" and that US arms sales "fuel tensions" in the Strait. In the United States, President Donald Trump downplayed the exercises, stating that Beijing has been "conducting naval exercises for 20 years" in the area, and assured that Chinese President Xi Jinping "hasn't said anything" about it.
