Kathmandu | The United States has issued a strong rebuke following China’s large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, which concluded on December 31, 2025. In a formal statement, the U.S. State Department expressed deep concern over Beijing’s military activities and escalating rhetoric, describing them as “unnecessary” provocations that threaten regional stability. The U.S. urged China to exercise restraint and cease its military pressure against the self-governed island, calling instead for meaningful dialogue to resolve cross-strait differences. Washington reiterated its support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing its firm opposition to any unilateral changes to the status quo through the use of force or coercion.
The military drills, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” involved a massive deployment of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy, air force, and rocket units across five maritime zones encircling Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the exercise featured over 130 aircraft and 14 naval vessels in a single 24-hour period, simulating a full blockade of the island’s major ports. Beijing framed the operation as a “stern warning” to what it terms “separatist forces” seeking Taiwan’s independence and a response to “external interference”—likely referencing the Trump administration’s recent approval of an $11 billion arms sale to Taipei. While the U.S. State Department issued a stern warning, President Donald Trump separately downplayed the immediate threat, suggesting that such naval exercises have been routine for decades and expressing confidence that President Xi Jinping would avoid a full-scale conflict during his second term.
Taiwan has also filed a sharp protest, condemning the exercises as an “irrational provocation” that undermines the security of vital international shipping routes. The Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei noted that the drills practiced “interdiction of energy imports,” highlighting the threat to the island’s economic survival. Despite the conclusion of the formal exercise on Wednesday, Taiwan remains on high alert as Chinese balloons and surveillance vessels continue to be detected near its contiguous zone. This latest flare-up marks the sixth major round of Chinese maneuvers since 2022, signaling a persistent and growing military pressure on Taiwan that has drawn concern from other global powers, including Japan, the UK, and the European Union.
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