China’s military said on Tuesday that it had deployed navy destroyers, bombers, and other forces as part of the exercises, which Beijing says are directed against “separatist” and “external” forces

By Asaye Bankole

China has launched rockets toward Taiwan as it continued a second day of large-scale military drills, including exercises simulating a blockade of the self-governed island.

China’s military said on Tuesday that it had deployed navy destroyers, bombers, and other forces as part of the exercises, which Beijing says are directed against “separatist” and “external” forces.

According to Chinese state media, the drills were set to include live-fire exercises between 8am and 6pm local time (00:00–10:00 GMT) in five designated maritime and airspace zones around Taiwan, along with air and sea patrols, simulated precision strikes, and anti-submarine manoeuvres.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said some of the live-fire exercises would take place in areas that Taiwan considers its territorial waters, within 12 nautical miles (about 22km) of the coastline, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported.
Taiwan’s coastguard said seven rockets were fired into drill zones one and two.

These zones are designated areas in waters surrounding Taiwan that China’s military has set aside for live-fire exercises.

Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said more than 80 domestic flights were cancelled on Tuesday, many of them to outlying islands, and more than 300 international flights could face delays as air traffic was rerouted during the drills.

The exercises, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” began early on Monday and followed days after the United States announced its largest-ever arms package for Taiwan, valued at $11.1bn.

In an editorial published on Monday, state-run newspaper China Daily said the drills were “part of a series of Beijing’s responses to US arms sales to Taiwan, as well as a warning to the [Taiwanese president] Lai Ching-te authorities in Taiwan”.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian also told reporters on Monday that the exercises were “a punitive and deterrent action against separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence through military buildup, and a necessary step to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the exercises were monitored by Taiwanese coastguard vessels and an undisclosed number of naval ships.

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