Chicago April 1, 2025
China’s military has begun joint exercises involving its army, navy, air force, and rocket force around Taiwan, just days after US Defense Chief Pete Hegseth vowed to counter “China’s aggression” during his first visit to Asia.
The exercises, which will see China’s armed forces “close in” on the self-governing island from multiple directions, aim to test the troops’ joint operations capabilities. The drills will practice maneuvers such as assaults on maritime and ground targets, as well as blockades on key areas and sea lanes.
According to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s Eastern Theater Command, the exercises serve as a “stern warning and forceful deterrence” against “Taiwan Independence” separatist forces. The statement emphasized that the action is legitimate and necessary to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.
This move comes as Taiwan watches nervously as US President Donald Trump reshapes Washington’s global relationships with his “America First” foreign policy. Taiwan, a democracy of 23 million people, sits just 80 miles from China, which claims the island as its own and has vowed to seize it by force if necessary.
