Indo-Pacific Security

China’s PLA said it had “successfully completed” two days of “Justice Mission 2025” live‑fire drills encircling Taiwan that used fighters, bombers, UAVs, long‑range rockets, naval and coast guard vessels to practice sea‑air combat patrols and simulated blockades of key ports, with rockets fired into waters near the island. Beijing framed the exercises as a warning against “Taiwan independence” and “external interference” after recent U.S. arms sales and comments by Japanese leaders, while Taiwan launched rapid‑response drills and condemned the maneuvers as provocative and U.S. officials said the actions unnecessarily raised tensions; the PLA said the drills tested integrated joint operations.