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China-Taiwan Tensions Escalate After Major Military Drills

January 6, 2026
Ron Kim

In the final days of 2025, tensions between China and Taiwan sharply escalated as Beijing conducted one of its most extensive military drills around the island in recent years. The exercises, which lasted from December 29 to December 31 and were officially dubbed “Justice Mission 2025,” involved coordinated operations by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The drills saw missiles fired into waters surrounding Taiwan, as well as the deployment of fighter jets and coast guard ships. According to Taiwanese defense officials, Chinese forces launched 27 rockets on the second day, with several landing closer to Taiwan than in previous exercises. Furthermore, they tracked 71 PLA aircraft and more than 20 navy and coast guard vessels during the operations.

Command spokesperson Senior Captain Li Xi said the demonstrations were a showcase of China’s ability to "resolutely thwart the attempts of 'Taiwan Independence' separatists and external intervention." Chinese President Xi Jinping later echoed similar sentiments in his 2026 New Year message from Beijing, stating that "the reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable." The drills began 11 days after the United States announced a record $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, making recent military escalations a potential act of retaliation by the Chinese government.

The Taiwanese coast guard reported keeping emergency maritime response centers active even as PLA vessels began pulling back. During and after the military drills, the Taiwanese government sharply condemned them. “As president, my stance has always been clear: to resolutely defend national sovereignty and strengthen national defence,” President William Lai Ching-te said on Thursday. “The coming year, 2026, will be a crucial one for Taiwan,” Taiwanese President Lai added. Taiwan’s ambitious president has previously called for a $40 billion increase in Taiwan’s military spending, although a legislature controlled by the opposition has stalled the proposal.

The military drills have received international condemnation. Tommy Pigott, spokesman for the United States Department of State, said that “China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue.” Other foreign powers, such as the European Union, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, all voiced serious concern over the drills, stressing that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are vital to global security. Any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo is viewed as a potentially catastrophic international conflict.

The drills appear aimed more at sending a strong political message than signaling an immediate move toward conflict. By timing them after increasing Western support, Beijing is likely seeking to pressure Taiwan. For the island nation, the exercises highlight the urgency of strengthening defense amid internal political hurdles. As show-of-force tactics become more routine, an already tense region risks spiraling into disaster.