Chinese missiles were fired as part of Justice Mission 2025. PLA photoChinese forces fired more than two dozen rockets and rehearsed port seizures on the second day of ongoing blockade drills around Taiwan, US Naval Institute News reports.
The “Justice Mission” exercise, a joint service People’s Liberation Army (PLA) drill meant to demonstrate Beijing’s ability to blockade Taiwan and defeat foreign forces coming to Taipei’s aid, is the latest evolution of exercises designed to “punish Taiwan independence” and “deter external interference,” according to Chinese state media.
Initiated just before the end of the year, the PLA Eastern Theater Command has deployed a wide range of missile, air and naval forces across seven zones surrounding Taiwan.
In statements and posters, Beijing cites Washington’s recent $11 billion arms sale of artillery systems, short-range ballistic missiles and loitering munitions to Taipei as one of the main reasons for the Justice Mission drills. PLA and China Coast Guard media have depicted Chinese forces stopping, and even boarding, vessels carrying High Mobility Rocket Artillery Systems (HIMARS) to Taiwan.
Taiwan has lauded the American long-range precision strike system as a key part of its defensive strategy against a potential Chinese invasion.
Tuesday was the main live-fire day for PLA forces, which were deployed and staged at strategic maritime points and provinces bordering the strait on Monday. Among the long-range systems the PLA highlighted were several Dong Feng series ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as the shorter-ranged PHL-16 multiple rocket launcher.
The PLA previously used the PHL-16 to strike notional targets in the Taiwan Strait in 2022, and repeated this role for the Justice Mission 2025 drills. While the system is capable of firing a variety of munitions, the launchers for Tuesday’s live-fire used guided rockets. A video of PLA Ground Force artillery forces also disclosed that their notional targets were mobile ground targets, including HIMARS.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense claimed that 17 rockets landed north of Keelung — a strategic port that recently received the Republic of China Army’s first American M1A2 main battle tanks. An additional ten rockets struck west of Tainan.
In a press conference, the ministry also stated that the Chinese rockets were the closest that PLA missiles have landed near Taiwan to date.
To the east of Taiwan, the Type 075 landing helicopter dock Hainan (31) supported a simulated drill involving the seizure of key ports and a special forces raid. Chinese Marines embarked onto Z-20 and Z-8 helicopters for air assault operations. A PLA graphic also showed ZBD-05 amphibious assault vehicles striking targets along Taiwan’s eastern coast.
China also sent various drones, fighters, bombers, aerial refuelers and other support aircraft to operate around Taiwan. An H-6K bomber sporting two supersonic YJ-12s deployed to demonstrate Beijing’s long-range maritime strike capabilities.
Over the course of the drills, Chinese and Taiwanese forces have been locked in confrontations in the skies and on the waters around the island. Beijing has released several photos of PLA aircraft, ships and drones facing down their Taiwanese counterparts, including several drone shots of Taipei and an unspecified air base. Taiwan’s defense ministry has released similar photos of Chinese forces taken from its patrol aircraft, fighters and warships.
Taiwanese anti-ship missile batteries and rapid reaction forces deployed to strategic areas across the island since the start of the exercise on Monday. A Republic of China Army engineering unit blocked off the Tamsui River estuary with floating barriers and explosive barrels in response to the drills. The Democratic People’s Party, the current ruling party in Taiwan, also released a graphic depicting Taiwan’s air defense and strike capabilities that could strike the current Chinese exercise areas.
Washington’s response to the drills has remained muted. “No, nothing worries me. They’ve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area,” President Donald Trump told reporters when asked about the drills. Pentagon officials referred USNI News to President Trump’s statement when asked for more information this week. The U.S. Navy currently has one aircraft carrier operating in the Western Pacific, in addition to the carrier and amphibious assault ship that are both forward-deployed out of Japan.
