Asger Risom
Beijing’s latest military exercises simulate strikes on key infrastructure as tensions with Taipei and Washington escalate
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The Taiwan Strait continues to serve as a fault line in Asia’s shifting geopolitical landscape, where military maneuvers often double as both rehearsal and provocation. With tensions high between China, Taiwan, and the United States, Beijing has once again escalated its posture near the island democracy.
Simulated Strikes Signal Strategic Intent
On Wednesday, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted surprise live-fire drills in the East China Sea as part of a broader operation named Strait Thunder-2025A.
According to the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, the exercises tested the military’s ability to implement “blockade and joint control” tactics, along with “precision strikes” on simulated targets such as ports and energy facilities.
These operations were not announced in advance and followed multi-branch exercises conducted a day earlier around Taiwan, involving China’s army, navy, air force, and missile units. Chinese officials described the drills as a “stern warning” to what they called “separatist forces supporting Taiwan independence.”
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The exercises, reported by Digi24, mark one of the most aggressive military actions in the region since the start of 2025.
Taiwan, U.S. Respond to Escalation
Taiwan’s government condemned the drills as an “irrational provocation,” accusing China of deliberately increasing tensions in the region.
The U.S. State Department also issued a sharp rebuke, denouncing Beijing’s “irresponsible threats and military pressure operations near Taiwan.” Officials warned that such intimidation tactics “only serve to undermine cross-strait peace and stability.”
The timing of the exercises coincides with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent visit to Asia, during which he emphasized Washington’s commitment to counter China’s regional assertiveness.
Strategic Stakes Continue to Rise
China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province, has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Despite democratic governance and growing international support, Taiwan remains excluded from most global institutions due to Beijing’s pressure.
As Beijing steps up its military signaling and the U.S. reinforces its alliances in the Indo-Pacific, the risk of confrontation in the Taiwan Strait continues to climb — a situation that now demands close global attention.
