PLA holds war games around Taiwan in warning to ‘independence forces’

The People’s Liberation Army kicked off drills around Taiwan on Monday that it called “legitimate and necessary” to safeguard national unity.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesman for the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, said the exercise was a warning to “independence forces” and external interference.

He said the drills – dubbed Justice Mission 2025 – were taking place in waters and airspace in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan’s main island.

Shi said the exercise was being conducted by Eastern Theatre Command troops from the army, navy, air force and rocket force.

Live-fire drills would be held on Tuesday between 8am and 6pm, the command said in a separate statement.

The PLA is conducting drills in five areas around Taiwan. Image: Eastern Theatre Command via Xinhua

“It is a stern warning against ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity,” Shi said.

South China Morning Post