China's Maritime Safety Administration issued two additional warning zones to the west and north of Taiwan as part of snap military drills under Justice Mission 2025, with Zone 7 located north of Zone 3 over the Taiwan Strait and Zone 6 between Zones 1 and 2 within Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone, according to a post by Sentinal Defender citing TaiwanMonitor on X in the 29 minutes ending at 5:45 a.m. UTC on December 29, 2025. TaiwanMonitor published a graphic overlaying Chinese exercise zones around Taiwan from the post-2022 Pelosi visit operations to the current Justice Mission 2025, providing a visual comparison of the evolving restricted areas, as stated in its post during the reporting window. These developments follow the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command's announcement of live-fire anti-ship drills north and southwest of Taiwan earlier in the morning, involving destroyers, frigates, fighter-bombers and other forces, according to TaiwanMonitor citing the command in the prior period ending at 5:15 a.m. UTC. The new zones expand restrictions noted in prior Maritime Safety Administration notices, building on footage releases and additional warnings issued throughout December 29, as previously reported.
