File image.
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on December 29 released drone footage of Taiwan’s Taipei 101, taken during the ongoing “Justice Mission 2025” drills.
The footage was included in a short video titled “So Near, So Beautiful — Anytime to Taipei” that was posted by the command on its official Sina Weibo account. Beside Taipei 101, the video also shows aircraft and naval vessels taking part in the large-scale drills off the shores of the island.
“You are right beneath my porthole; you are right before my ship’s bow. With a stretch of the hand, I could scoop up the waters of Riyue Tan, or the Sun Moon Lake; with a single step, I could climb to the summit of Alishan,” the post attached to the video reads.
China Military Bugle, the official English-speaking press account of the PLA, later posted on X another video showing a TB-001A combat drone providing an aerial view of Taipei 101.
The Justice Mission 2025 drills, which began on December 29, involve army, navy, air force and rocket force units operating in the Taiwan Strait and waters north, southwest, southeast and east of the island.
The drills focus on sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain, according to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command.
China Military Bugle on December 30 shared additional videos from the drills showing. In one of them PLA troops are seen firing guided artillery rockets from PCL-191 multiple launch systems. The impact of the Chinese military’s live-fire drill was inside Taiwan’s 24-nautical-mile line, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.
The ministry also said that 130 PLA aircraft, 14 naval vessels, and eight official ships were operating around Taiwan up until 6 am (2200GMT on December 29 ).
“90 out of 130 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ (air defense identification zone). We monitored the situation, responded,” it added in a statement posted to X.
The Chinese drills came just a few days after the United States approved a one-time record sale of arms worth over $11 billion to Taipei.
The deal includes up to 82 HIMARS launchers with 420 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, 60 M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, over 2,500 Javelin and TOW anti-tank guided missiles, Altius loitering drones, and tactical mission network software.
Additional components cover spare parts for AH-1W attack helicopters and refurbishment kits for Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on December 30 described the drills as “a punitive and deterrent response to Taiwan independence separatist forces who attempt to seek independence through military buildup.”
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo said that the Chinese drills “threaten regional stability and civilian traffic.”
Overall, the ongoing drills show that China is both capable and willing to respond to any escalation by the U.S. and Taiwan. While a confrontation over the island remains highly-unlike, both sides are certainly arming and preparing for a worst case scenario.
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