The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) carried out large-scale military exercises in the central Taiwan Strait on December 29, 2025, deploying fighter jets, bombers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) alongside long-range rocket artillery. The drills, focused on striking mobile ground targets, aimed to enhance operational readiness and test precision strike capabilities in dynamic scenarios.
Military analysts describe the maneuvers as a systematic demonstration of integrated air-sea coordination, with UAVs providing real-time reconnaissance to guide artillery units. A spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command emphasized the exercises were 'routine training activities' aligned with annual plans, though they coincide with increased regional attention to cross-strait stability.
Taiwan authorities reportedly monitored the drills closely, with local media noting heightened air defense alerts. The exercises occur as regional governments, including the U.S. and Japan, reaffirm commitments to maintaining peace in the Asia-Pacific. Observers suggest the drills underscore the PLA's evolving focus on rapid-response capabilities in contested environments.
For investors, the developments highlight the need to monitor cross-strait dynamics, particularly in semiconductor supply chains and shipping routes. Academics caution against overinterpretation but stress the importance of dialogue to prevent miscalculations.
