August 2022 hosting US Speaker
Nancy Pelosi and her entourage. On 2 August, in response to Pelosi's visit, the People's Republic of China announced four days of military live-fire drills, In response to the announcement, ROC officials complained that the PLA's live-fire drills were an invasion of Taiwan's territorial space and a direct challenge to free air and sea navigation. That same day, China began conducting significant military movements around Taiwan. and they launched a week of full-scale military drills around Taiwan. In a show of strength, the PRC deployed both a
carrier group, as well as at least one
nuclear submarine to the
Taiwan Strait, with both the carrier group as well as the nuclear submarine participating in the live-fire drills. The PRC announced additional live-fire drills in both the
Yellow and
Bohai Sea, and China's Maritime Safety Administration announced five restricted areas in the Yellow Sea where exercises were to happen from 5 August to 15 August, as well as four additional zones in the Bohai Sea, where a month of PRC military operations were scheduled to happen starting from 8 August. China fired 11 missiles into waters surrounding Taiwan during the live-fire drills, at least several of which were
Dongfeng ballistic missiles, double the number fired in July 1995, during the
Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. Several missiles reportedly flew over Taiwan. Japan reported that five of the missiles landed in
its exclusive economic zone, southwest of the
Yaeyama Islands. According to the Japanese
Ministry of Defense, this is the first time ballistic missiles launched by China had landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone. The scale and intensity of these military exercises were significantly more severe than those of the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, with the August 2022 drills having more military closure boxes, which were situated much closer to Taiwan and bracketed far more of the island, missiles fired directly over Taiwan for the first time, and more intensive military maneuvers. However, the US also cancelled the planned test launch of a
Minuteman III missile, which was scheduled to happen during the same week the crisis started, in order to avoid escalating tensions with China further. In response to the PRC drills, on 7 August, the ROC government announced that it would be conducting live-fire artillery exercises in
Pingtung County which served to act as both retaliation to the recent PRC live-fire exercises around Taiwan and test combat readiness. At first, the PRC seemed to wrap up its military drills according to its original schedule published on 4 August. During drills held in
Lienchiang County, flares fired by Taiwan's army started a fire. However, on Monday, 8 August,
China's Eastern Theater Command announced it would continue its drills, which includes
anti-submarine attacks and sea raid operations, without announcing an ending date. On 10 August, the Eastern Theatre Command announced an end to the military exercises, after they had "successfully completed various tasks and effectively tested the integrated combat capabilities of the troops". However, the Eastern Theatre Command also announced it would carry out regular "patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait." After his announcement, the PLA threatened to take serious action against Tsai if she met with McCarthy. Despite the threats, Tsai arrived in the U.S. on 5 April and met with McCarthy and other prominent U.S. lawmakers. The meeting took place at the
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Hours after Tsai's meeting, a congressional delegation consisting of Representative
Michael McCaul, chair of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, arrived in
Taipei in their third overseas visit. During their stop, McCaul stated: "we stand here today not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans in strong support of Taiwan". He also compared
CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping with
Adolf Hitler, a remark that sparked controversy. In response, the
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sanctioned McCaul. On 8 April 2023, the PLA announced the start of three days of "combat readiness patrols" () encircling
Taiwan, naming the exercises "Joint Sword" (). That same day, Chinese state media released a video which mentioned several of the assets that would be used in the exercises, including PLA army rockets, the Navy's destroyer escort, a missile boat, the Air Force's J-series, fighter bombers,
electronic warfare aircraft, and aerial tankers. bombers, one pictured here in 2022, were spotted flying over Taiwan during the exercises Following the announcement, the military dispatched several warships and dozens of aircraft—including
Sukhoi Su-30s and
Xian H-6 bombers—toward Taiwan. According to
Taiwan's defense ministry, approximately 71 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the
Taiwan Strait. The PLA later announced a live-fire exercise on waters near
Pingtan Island. Taiwan released a map of the flight paths of four Chinese J-15 fighter jets to the east of the island, which analysts stated were likely from the
Shandong aircraft carrier which was participating in the military exercises. On 9 April 2023, Chinese fighter jets and war ships simulated strikes on Taiwan and simulated an encirclement of the island, prompting Taiwan to deploy its own warships, leading to a standoff between the two navies. In response, on 10 April, the
U.S. Navy sent one warship to the
South China Sea. That same day,
China announced the end of the initial drills, but stated they would continue combat training around
Taiwan.
August 2023 and
Hsiao Bi-khim in New York City in 2023. The pair was elected President and Vice President the following year. In mid-August 2023, then-Taiwanese Vice President
Lai Ching-te transited through the United States during a diplomatic trip to
Paraguay, in
South America, making a stopover in
New York City. In response, China initiated a day of large-scale military drills around Taiwan on Saturday, 19 August, with at least 42 Chinese aircraft and 8 ships detected in the space around Taiwan, and 26 Chinese fighter jets crossing the
Median Line of the Taiwan Strait. The drill was smaller than the previous two Chinese military drills around Taiwan, however. According to the PLA, they carried out "omnidirectional encirclement" of Taiwan. While the PRC has long despised Taiwanese politicians from the
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), they were known to harbor a particular enmity for Lai Ching-te.
May 2024 (Joint Sword–2024A) On 20 May 2024,
Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as President. The Eastern Theater Command of Operations conducted the initial round of military drills from 23 May to 24 May 2024. The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command initiated joint exercises and training in the Taiwan Strait, the northern, southern, and eastern regions of the island of Taiwan, as well as the areas surrounding
Kinmen,
Matsu Islands,
Wuqiu Island, and
Dongyin Island, at 0745 hours on 23 May 2024. After the Joint Operations Command Center of the Eastern Theatre issued operational instructions, the
East Sea Fleet's numerous frigate formations maneuvered at high velocities in multiple directions to the waters surrounding the island of Taiwan. The
People's Liberation Army Rocket Force provided support and cover for multi-model formations, which were fully loaded with live ammunition, as they flew to predetermined airspace to establish a number of strike positions. On 23 May, Li Xi, the spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command, stated that the "separatist forces" seeking "uniqueness" are "Taiwan independence" and are receiving strong discipline. He also issued a serious warning to "external forces that are interfering with provocations". Li Xi then disclosed the use of weapons and equipment, including
Chengdu J-20,
Shenyang J-16,
Type 052C destroyer,
Type 071 amphibious transport dock,
Dongfeng series missiles, and box-type long-range rockets.
October 2024 (Joint Sword–2024B) Following the Taiwan
National Day holidays, on 14 October, the Eastern Theater Command of the
People's Liberation Army (PLA) coordinated with the
Navy (PLAN),
Air Force (PLAAF),
Rocket Force (PLARF) and the
Chinese Coast Guard to conduct "Joint Sword-2024B" maneuvers in the
Taiwan Strait, as well as six marked areas in the waters north, south, and east of Taiwan, effectively surrounding Taiwan during the drills. According to Li Xi, a spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command, the different branches of the Chinese military focused the exercises on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, blockades on key ports and areas, assaults on maritime and ground targets, and the joint seizure of comprehensive superiority. During the operation, the Chinese Coast Guard sent four fleets of ships to conduct "law enforcement inspections" around Taiwan, and carried out "comprehensive law enforcement patrols" in waters surrounding the
Dongyin and
Matsu Islands. The Chinese military described the exercises as a "stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan Independence forces."
November–December 2024 On 30 November 2024, President Lai Ching-te made a stopover in
Hawaii, as part of a 2-day transit in the US, during a diplomatic trip to the
South Pacific countries. Around the same time, China quietly conducted large-scale military drills off their coastline in the
East China Sea, spanning from 28 to 30 November. On 8 December 2025, China announced that they would be holding large-scale military drills across both the
East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait over the next few days, closing roughly of airspace across the region when combined with their earlier drill at the end of November. On 9 December, China deployed over 90 ships across the region, including some positioned near
Japan's southern islands, and including moving ships in a formation of two parallel walls to the east of Taiwan, simulating blockade operations. The operation was left unnamed, contrary to expectations. This was China's single-largest maritime deployment to date, exceeding the scale of the previous drills from 2024, their seminal August 2022 military drill, and even their operations during the 1996 Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, and it was also the first time they held a military operation of such scale during the winter, which was unusual for them. On the same day, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense and spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, criticized the US attempt to "use Taiwan to contain China" and the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party authorities' attempt to "rely on the US to seek independence" and "resist unification by force" at a regular press conference when answering questions about the recent Taiwan military "
Han Kuang Exercise" exercise. He said to the Taiwan side, "Trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm will only lead to its own destruction. Sooner or later, we will come to take you away." On 13 March, President
Lai Ching-te of the
Republic of China delivered a speech after a
national security meeting held on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the 2005
Anti-Secession Law. In addition to proposing 17 response strategies for the national security and
united front threats facing
Taiwan, he also called China a "
foreign hostile forces" as defined by the
Anti-Infiltration Act. On 1 April,
Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China
Gu Lixiong stated that since 29 March, the dynamics of the
aircraft carrier Shandong formation and other aircraft and ships have been gradually grasped, and yesterday (31 March) they entered the
national army's "response zone", indicating that the
People's Liberation Army had begun preparing for military operations since the end of March.
Military drills On 1 April 2025, Zhu Anqing, spokesperson for the
East China Sea Branch of the
China Coast Guard, stated that multiple Coast Guard fleets had organized law enforcement patrols in the waters around Taiwan, and conducted exercises on spot inspections, arrests, interception, and detention. The
Fujian Coast Guard organized a fleet of ships to conduct comprehensive law enforcement patrols in the waters near
Dongyin Island and
Wuqiu Island. On the morning of 1 April, the
Eastern Theater Command Media Center released three posters in
Traditional Chinese characters, with themes such as "Advance," "Deterrence and Closure," and "Destruction and Paralysis"., as well as an animation titled "Shell," which showed how Lai Ching-te used "peace," "freedom," "democracy," and "prosperity" as a cover to "de-
Chiangize" his country, formulate the "17 National Security Regulations" of "green terror" to persecute political opponents (such as
Ko Wen-je and
Kao An-kuo), and increase military purchases and rely on the United States to seek "
independence" to sell out Taiwan. In the animation, Lai Ching-te was drawn up as a worm roasted on fire. This was the first time since Chiang Kai-shek that the
Chinese Communist Party had vilified a major Taiwanese leader. On the same day, the Eastern Theater Command released an animation titled "Exorcising Demons and Demons", which used material from the popular 2024 game
Black Myth: Wukong. The video showed
Taipei 101 and Hankou Street, as well as satellite positioning locked on Taiwan, and simulated missile attacks on
Zhongzheng District in
Taipei City, where the
Presidential Palace of the Republic of China is located. This was the first time that the People's Liberation Army had clearly released its attack target. However, Taiwan media outlet
China Times believed that the video had a stronger flavor of "internal propaganda". The exercise video released by the official media showed for the first time the so-called
H-6K bomber carrying the
Eagle Strike 21 anti-ship missile, which is considered to be able to effectively prevent
US military intervention. According to data from the
Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China, on that day, at least 76
PLA military aircraft (37 of which crossed the median line of the
Taiwan Strait) and 15 warships and 4 government ships approached Taiwan. Initially, this military drill went unnamed, with a Chinese military source justifying the decision by stating that this change was indicative of the large-scale military exercises near Taiwan having become routine. On 2 April, the second day of the exercise, the Eastern Theater Command officially announced the code name of this exercise, "
Strait Thunder-2025A". However, the scope of the exercises that started on 2 April only included "relevant waters in the central and southern parts of the Taiwan Strait". The training subjects were "verification and identification, warning and expulsion, interception and detention, etc.", which was different from the time, scope and subjects announced on the previous day. It can be seen that "Strait Thunder" was not the code name of the entire exercise, and the exercise on 1 April did not fall under the scope of "Strait Thunder". On 2 April, the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army conducted a long-range live-fire exercise in the relevant waters of the
East China Sea in accordance with the exercise plan, striking simulated targets, such as important ports and energy facilities. The Shandong aircraft carrier formation was in the sea and air space east of Taiwan Island, conducting exercises with
naval and air force forces on subjects such as ship-aircraft coordination, regional air control, and sea and land strikes. Zhang Chi, a professor at the National Defense University (China) of the
People's Liberation Army National Defense University (China), said that the Shandong aircraft carrier formation's participation in the exercise showed that the PLA's ability to respond quickly, strike with precision, and coordinate systems is constantly improving. The presence of the aircraft carrier fleet in the area east of Taiwan helps to militarily block the lifeline of energy resource imports, the support line for obtaining foreign aid, and the escape line for evading sanctions for the "
Taiwan independence" forces. Later, the Eastern Theater Command (China) simulated the use of
PHL-16 to attack the
Yong'an LNG Terminal in Kaohsiung. As a result, the trajectory of the
cargo ship Ebisu transporting natural gas to the
Taichung LNG Terminal was suspected to be affected by the exercise. The
Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China clarified this. However, it is certain that the Eastern Theater Command has listed the energy facilities of the Republic of China as priority targets for destruction. In addition, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) also conducted long-range live-fire exercises in the East China Sea. The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China stated that on that day, at least 59 PLA aircraft (31 of which crossed the Median line of the Taiwan Strait|median line of the strait and entered the northern, central, southwestern, and eastern airspace) and 23 warships approached Taiwan. The images released by the
Coast Guard Administration (Taiwan) at a press conference confirmed that the China Coast Guard Ship 2305 entered the 24-nautical-mile zone adjacent to
Taiwan Island.
Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with the
China Central Television, said that the closest distance of the drill with Taiwan was less than 20 nautical miles. On 2 April, the Eastern Theater Command released a poster titled "Lockdown". The official account of the People's Liberation Army
News and Communication Center, "Jun Zhengping Studio", published a commentary titled "Taiwan independence means war, don't say I didn't warn you". The China Coast Guard released a themed video titled "Clean Sea" on law enforcement and control around Taiwan Island. Taiwan current affairs commentator
Julian Kuo determined that because the United States was busy launching a
tariff war and dealing with the
Russian invasion of Ukraine, and
CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping will
visit Russia on 9 May and attend the
Victory Day commemoration activities, there is not enough time to prepare a big event, so this military exercise is more like a compromise. The final move is expected to be on 20 May, one year after
Lai Ching-te's inauguration. At that time, Lai Ching-te may make remarks similar to "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other" and "hostile forces abroad", and the People's Liberation Army will once again launch a partial blockade of Taiwan. On 3 April, the ''
People's Liberation Army Daily published a commentary signed by "Jun Sheng" entitled "Separatist provocations will be severely punished, and the reunification of the motherland will surely be realized", directly calling Lai Ching-te a "trouble maker", "danger maker", and "war maker"; the People's Daily'' published a commentary signed by "Zhong Yiping" entitled "Resolutely punish Lai Ching-te and do our utmost to defend peace in the Taiwan Strait", stating that "every time the Lai Ching-te administration provokes, military deterrence will be further advanced". At 6:47 a.m. on 3 April, a
U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was warned by a People's Liberation Army Navy warship when it flew over the airspace near the waters off the
Hengchun Peninsula in
Pingtung County, Taiwan, saying: "You have entered the 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone of
China Taiwan, adjust your route and leave." The crew of the P-8 Poseidon responded: "We are conducting a legitimate military operation in
international airspace.".
December 2025 (Justice Mission-2025) On 29 December, the
People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s
Eastern Theater Command deployed units from its
ground force,
navy,
air force and
rocket force to areas around Taiwan. Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Shi Yi announced that the drills would take place in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of the island. He said the exercises would focus on combat readiness, blockades of strategic areas, joint operations, and deterring "
Taiwan independence separatist forces" and "external interference forces". This military exercise was the 8th major drill held around Taiwan since 2022, as well as the first that had a publicly stated aim of deterring external involvement; it has also been described by some sources as China's most extensive military exercise near Taiwan to date. which the
China Maritime Safety Administration later said had increased to seven. Ships and aircraft were warned to stay away from the zones. The zones crossed into Taiwan's territorial waters for the first time since
the 2022 exercises that the Chinese military had held around Taiwan. On one of its Chinese social media accounts, the Eastern Theater Command released a video that was shot by a drone which purported to show a view of
Taipei 101. In addition, the
China Coast Guard announced the start of patrols in waters near
Matsu and
Wuqiu. A report by government media
China Central Television said the exercises included "maritime and airborne search-and-destroy operations, simulated strikes on land and live-fire naval drills" and focused on blockading the
Port of Keelung and
Kaohsiung. Commenting on the drills, Chinese
foreign ministry spokesperson
Lin Jian said attempts by external forces to use Taiwan to contain China would only push the region closer to war.
Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson
Chen Binhua said the Taiwanese government was colluding with external forces to seek independence. Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said the PLA would not hesitate to fight pro-independence forces and organize anti-separatist and anti-interference actions in order to promote reunification and safeguard national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. Chinese state-run tabloid
Global Times connected the drills to US weapons sales. At 3:00 PM Taipei Time, on 29 December, Taiwanese Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Intelligence Hsieh Jih-sheng stated Taiwan had detected 14 PLA warships and 14 Chinese Coast Guard vessels around Taiwan, as well as the detection of an "amphibious assault strike group" consisting of four ships in the southeastern water of Taiwan and 89 warplanes in the skies around Taiwan, with 67 of them entering Taiwan's response zone under Taiwan's monitoring and response. On the second day of the drills, several live rockets were fired from
Pingtan Island. The Eastern Theatre Command subsequently said it had fired rockets into waters both north and south of Taiwan and released a video of firing what appeared to be a mobile PCH-191 rocket launcher firing into the sea. This was the first time China fired rockets into the Taiwan Strait since the 2022 exercises, with Taiwan's
Ministry of National Defense stating the rockets landed near Taiwan's 24 nautical mile line. The ministry also stated that in the 24-hour period through 6:00 AM Taipei Time on 30 December, it had confirmed activity by 130 Chinese military fighters, drones and other aircraft around Taiwan, as well as 14 Chinese military ships and eight other Chinese ships. Hsieh stated that the PLA had fired 27 rockets into waters to the north and southwest of Taiwan. == Impact ==