China has fired multiple rockets into waters surrounding Taiwan for a second consecutive day as part of large-scale military exercises involving missile launches, fighter aircraft, and naval vessels, further escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said the live-fire drills were designed to simulate attacks on maritime targets and rehearse a potential blockade of Taiwan’s key ports and sea lanes. Military assets were deployed in multiple zones around the island, marking one of Beijing’s most extensive and assertive exercises near Taiwan in recent years.
Taiwan’s government condemned the drills as “highly provocative and reckless,” warning that the exercises risk destabilising regional security and increasing the chances of miscalculation. Taiwan’s defence ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation and had activated appropriate response measures to safeguard the island’s security.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan, a self-governed democracy, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and insists its future must be determined by its people.
The drills come amid heightened friction between Beijing and Washington. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that Beijing would “forcefully counter” what it described as substantial U.S. weapons supplies to Taiwan, stressing that any efforts to impede China’s reunification with the island “will inevitably end in failure.”
The United States, which is Taiwan’s most important security partner, has reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait while continuing arms sales to help Taipei defend itself. Regional allies, including Japan, have expressed growing concern over the expanding scale and proximity of China’s military activities.
Analysts say the exercises appear intended to signal Beijing’s readiness to escalate military pressure in response to U.S. support for Taiwan, while testing blockade and strike capabilities around one of Asia’s most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints.
