Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for China's PLA Eastern Theater Command, announced in the past 30 minutes via ChinaMilBugle on X that the command is dispatching Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force troops for joint military drills code-named “Justice Mission 2025” starting December 29 in the Taiwan Strait and areas north, southwest, southeast, and east of Taiwan Island. The exercises focus on sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, and all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain, with multiple services conducting joint assaults using vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan from different directions to test joint operations capabilities, according to Shi Yi's statement. Shi Yi described the drills as a stern warning against “Taiwan Independence” separatist forces. JaimeOcon1 on X reported the announcement as breaking news during the reporting window from 12:45 a.m. to 1:16 a.m. UTC on December 29, 2025, providing a visualization of the declared exercise zones per Chinese state media. The announcement follows a PLA notice earlier on December 29 detailing “Just Mission 2025” drills scheduled for December 30 from 0800 to 1800 UTC with five restricted zones around Taiwan, as reported in the previous two-hour period.
