PLA drills demonstrate resolve to reunify

Timeline

Key PLA actions around Taiwan (2022–25)

Late December 2025: The PLA Eastern Theater Command conducts the two-day Justice Mission-2025 exercise, following the US government's announcement of what was believed to be its largest-ever arms sales package to Taiwan worth $11 billion. The amphibious assault ship CNS Hainan formation takes part in the drill.

Early April 2025: The Eastern Theater Command carries out the one-day drill Strait Thunder-2025A. The exercise came after Taiwan's regional leader Lai Ching-te said in a speech on March 13 that the mainland was a "hostile external force" and rolled out 17 strategies to counter what he called threats facing the island.

Mid-October 2024: The Eastern Theater Command stages a one-day drill, Joint Sword B, after Lai, in a speech on Oct 10, promoted separatist views and peddled fallacies of "Taiwan independence". The CNS Liaoning aircraft carrier formation participates in the exercise.

Late May 2024: The Eastern Theater Command conducts the two-day joint military exercise Joint Sword-2024A. The drills were launched in response to a speech delivered on May 20 by Taiwan's new regional leader Lai, who advocated "Taiwan independence".

Mid-August 2023: The Eastern Theater Command organizes one-day joint combat readiness patrols, along with joint training involving multiple arms and services. The move followed Lai's trip to the United States in August, which he made under the pretext of a "transit".

Early April 2023: The Eastern Theater Command carries out combat readiness patrols around Taiwan Island and launches the Joint Sword exercise, lasting three days. The action came in response to then-Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen's trip to the US. The CNS Shandong aircraft carrier formation takes part in the drills.

Early August 2022: The Eastern Theater Command conducts joint sea-and-air drills, including live-fire long-range strikes in the Taiwan Strait and tests of conventional missile forces, with the exercises lasting more than a week. The drills were held after then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the Taiwan region.

jiangchenglong@chinadaily.com.cn