China said it had “successfully completed” its military exercises around Taiwan on Wednesday.
“The [People’s Liberation Army] Eastern Theater Command has successfully completed ‘Justice Mission 2025’ drills,” spokesperson Senior Captain Li Xi said.
Taiwan’s coast guard earlier said Chinese warships and coast guard vessels were pulling away from waters around the self-ruled island, adding it would keep a close eye on the movements, saying “we can’t let our guard down.”
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it tracked 77 PLA aircraft sorties and 17 PLA vessels near Taiwan on Tuesday.
Chinese drills simulate blockade of Taiwan’s ports
The Chinese drills, which began on Monday, simulated a blockade of Taiwan’s ports. China fired rockets and deployed dozens of aircraft, naval and coast guard vessels.
The exercises, named “Justice Mission 2025,” included live-fire drills in multiple zones surrounding Taiwan, according to China’s Eastern Theater Command.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te warned the exercises were part of a broader pattern and pose a threat to regional stability.
“Recently, from areas around Japan to the South China Sea, and now through incursions targeting Taiwan, China’s authoritarian expansion and escalating coercion have brought significant uncertainty and risk to regional stability, while also affecting global shipping, trade and peace,” Lai said.
Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han on Wednesday called the exercises a “necessary and just measure” to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Earlier, China’s military said the drills are “a stern warning against ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces and aimed at deterring outside military intervention.”
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out using force to exert its control. Taiwan rejects these claims.
Australia, Japan call for dialogue
The drills also drew international criticism.
Australia and Japan also issued statements regarding the drills.
Australia’s Foreign Ministry warned the military drills “risk inflaming regional tensions” and called for differences to “be managed through dialogue.”
Japan, which had said recently that its military could get involved if China acted against Taiwan, said it was “concerned” about the drills and called for peaceful negotiations.
“Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are important for the international community as a whole,” Japanese Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura said.
Beijing on Wednesday slammed these “irresponsible criticisms” of China’s actions, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian saying: “These countries and institutions are turning a blind eye to the separatist forces in Taiwan attempting to achieve independence through military means.”
Edited by: Sean Sinico
