31-12-2025

China Conducts Military Drills Around Taiwan Amid Tensions

Date: 31-12-2025
Sources: cbsnews.com: 1 | foxnews.com: 1 | nytimes.com: 1 | scmp.com: 1 | theguardian.com: 1
Image for cluster 10
Image Source:

Source: foxnews.com

Image content: The image depicts a military vehicle launching a missile, with the vehicle positioned in the center of the frame. The scene is set against a backdrop of trees and a building. **Key Elements:** * A large, green military truck is visible, featuring a long, angled launcher on its back. * The launcher is firing a missile, which is surrounded by a cloud of smoke and flames. * In the background, there are trees and a white building with multiple balconies. **Description:** The main subject of the image is the military vehicle launching a missile. The visible objects include the green military truck, the launcher, the missile, trees, and a white building. The image appears to be related to military activities or operations. **Concise Description:** A military vehicle is launching a missile, surrounded by smoke and flames, in a field with trees and a building in the background. The vehicle is green and has a large launcher on its back. The missile is being fired into the

Summary

China conducted large-scale live-fire military drills around Taiwan, code-named 'Justice Mission 2025', involving dozens of fighter aircraft, navy vessels, and missile launches, amid rising tensions with Taiwan, the US, and Japan. The drills were condemned by Taiwan, the US, Japan, and Australia, who expressed concerns over the destabilizing effects and potential escalation.

Key Points

  • China conducted military drills around Taiwan, firing missiles and involving numerous aircraft and naval vessels.
  • The drills were condemned by Taiwan, the US, Japan, and Australia as 'highly provocative and reckless'.
  • China claimed the drills were a response to Taiwan independence separatist forces and to defend national sovereignty.
  • The exercises simulated a blockade of Taiwan's key ports and assaults on maritime targets.
  • The international community is concerned about the escalating tensions and potential regional instability.

Articles in this Cluster

China fires missiles on second day of military drills Taiwan calls "highly provocative and reckless" - CBS News

China conducted a second day of live-fire military drills around Taiwan, code-named 'Justice Mission 2025', involving dozens of fighter aircraft, navy vessels, and missile launches. Taiwan condemned the drills as 'highly provocative and reckless', while China claimed they were a response to Taiwan independence separatist forces and a necessary action to defend national sovereignty. The drills simulated a blockade of Taiwan's key ports and assaults on maritime targets, with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) stating that they achieved the desired effects. The exercises come amid tensions between China and Taiwan, with the US and Japan also involved in the geopolitical dynamics.
Entities: China, Taiwan, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, United StatesTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

China fires rockets near Taiwan in major live-fire military drills on video | Fox News

China conducted large-scale live-fire military drills near Taiwan, firing rockets into waters north of the island and surrounding it with warships, aircraft, and military pressure. The drills, dubbed 'Justice Mission 2025,' were the largest military encirclement of Taiwan in eight months and came amid rising tensions following a record U.S. arms sale to Taipei. Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported that 130 PLA aircraft, 14 naval vessels, and eight official ships were operating around the island, with 90 sorties crossing the median line into Taiwan's air defense identification zone. Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te condemned China's actions as 'not the behavior of a responsible world power,' while China claimed Taiwan as its territory and warned 'separatist' forces and outside powers.
Entities: China, Taiwan, People's Liberation Army (PLA), William Lai Ching-te, Xi JinpingTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Inside China’s Six-Decade Campaign to Dominate Rare Earths - The New York Times

The article explores China's six-decade campaign to dominate the rare earths industry, tracing its origins to an iron ore mine near Baotou in 1964. China's leadership, including Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping, played a crucial role in developing the industry through strategic planning, investment, and consolidation. The country's control over rare earths has given it significant leverage over global supply chains and clean energy technologies. The article highlights key figures, such as Xu Guangxian, who invented a new method to refine pure rare-earth metals, and discusses China's use of rare earths as a tool in its trade war with the US.
Entities: China, Deng Xiaoping, Xi Jinping, Rare earths, BaotouTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Tokyo expresses concern to Beijing over military drills around Taiwan: report | South China Morning Post

The Japanese government has expressed concern to Beijing over China's military drills around Taiwan, amid tensions between the two countries. The drills, which include live-fire exercises and blockade maneuvers, are seen as a warning to 'independence forces' and against external interference. The tensions have escalated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments in early November about a potential Taiwan contingency, which Beijing views as interference in China's internal affairs. Japan has conveyed to Beijing that it expects issues concerning Taiwan to be resolved peacefully through dialogue. The situation is further complicated by a recent US$11 billion weapons package approved by the US State Department for Taiwan, which Beijing has condemned as 'flagrant interference in China's internal affairs'.
Entities: Japan, China, Taiwan, Beijing, TokyoTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Australia says ‘deeply concerning, destabilising’ Chinese exercises near Taiwan risk inflaming regional tension | Australian foreign policy | The Guardian

Australia has expressed deep concern over China's recent large-scale military exercises near Taiwan, calling them 'destabilising' and risking 'inflaming regional tensions'. The exercises, dubbed 'Justice Mission 2025', involved the People's Liberation Army (PLA) firing 27 missiles into waters near Taiwan, as well as detecting 70 war planes, 11 navy ships, and 14 coast guard vessels. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) stated that the country opposes any actions that increase the risk of accident, miscalculation, or escalation, and that differences should be managed through dialogue, not force or coercion. The PLA's actions are seen as part of a broader strategy to assert control over Taiwan, which Beijing claims is a Chinese province. The international community, including the US, is watching the situation closely, with the US president, Donald Trump, downplaying the significance of the exercises.
Entities: Australia, China, Taiwan, People's Liberation Army (PLA), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat)Tone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform