China launches live-fire exercise near Taiwan amid heightened tensions

KARACHI, Pakistan

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted live-fire drills Wednesday in the middle and southern areas of the Taiwan Strait as part of military exercises around Taiwan, state media reported.

Codenamed Strait Thunder-2025A the latest military exercise was conducted a day after China launched large-scale military and coastguard exercises around the island on Tuesday as “a stern warning and a strong deterrent to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence.”

The exercises focus on identification and verification, warning and expulsion, and interception and detention to test the troops' capabilities of area regulation and control, joint blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets, China’s Xinhua News Agency reported, citing Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the PLA's Eastern Theater Command.

According to the Global Times, the drills included the deployment of the Shandong aircraft carrier in coordination with Chinese naval and air units. The use of a modular rocket launcher system was also noted to be the highlight of the exercise.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 76 Chinese military aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and drones, as well as 21 navy ships and four Coast Guard vessels, participated in the exercise.

"37 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone. We have monitored the situation and responded,” the ministry said.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Shi said the precision strike exercise focused on mock ports and energy facilities and “achieved its intended objectives.”

The PLA did not say when this latest round of drills will end.

China considers Taiwan its "breakaway" province, whereas Taipei insists on its independence.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council strongly protested the military drills and said the drills "undermine" the status quo and "threaten regional peace and stability."

"We call on the CCP to stop such provocative actions," said the council, addressing the ruling Chinese Communist Party.