By Dalena Reporters l December 31, 2025
TAIPEI — Taiwan remained on heightened alert Wednesday after China concluded the most expansive military exercises ever staged around the self-ruled island, even as Chinese naval vessels began pulling back from Taiwanese waters. The continued vigilance underscores regional unease over Beijing’s intensified pressure and the fragility of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
The exercises, conducted under the banner “Justice Mission 2025,” involved an unprecedented deployment of Chinese military assets including rockets, warships, coast guard vessels and aircraft in operations encircling key approaches to Taiwan. While official announcements from Beijing have not confirmed the formal end of the drills, Taiwan’s coast guard reported that all 11 Chinese coast guard ships have left waters near the island and are moving away, according to the head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council.
Despite the partial withdrawal, Taipei’s emergency maritime response centre remains fully operational, and both military and coast guard units continue to monitor developments. Taiwanese authorities said 77 Chinese military planes and 25 naval and coast guard vessels had been active in the vicinity over the prior 24-hour period, with 35 aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait an unofficial buffer between the two sides.
The drills, which included the firing of dozens of rockets and simulated blockade maneuvers, forced Taiwan to cancel dozens of domestic flights and mobilize rapid-response drills among its forces. Soldiers were seen reinforcing defense positions in multiple locations as part of preparedness measures.
Beijing described the operations as a demonstration of its growing ability to “press and contain separatist forces” and to deter external interference, in language that reflects a hardened stance against any diplomatic or military support for Taiwan. Analysts say the drills were a direct response to recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan including a record ~$11.1 billion military assistance package and were intended as a clear signal to Washington and its allies.
Taipei condemned the war games as a “blatant provocation and threat to regional security,” reiterating its rejection of Chinese sovereignty claims over the island. Western partners, including the European Commission and the United Kingdom, also voiced concern over the escalation and called for restraint to avoid destabilizing cross-strait relations.
While the withdrawal of Chinese vessels has eased immediate tensions, Taiwanese officials caution that the situation remains volatile. The absence of an official end to the drills and the scale of Beijing’s operational deployment have left Taipei on guard, signaling that the episode may have lasting implications for regional defense postures and diplomatic engagements into 2026.