The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched large-scale military exercises encircling the Taiwan region this week, with a striking video showing a PLA drone flying directly over Taipei 101 – the island's tallest skyscraper and symbolic landmark. Codenamed 'Justice Mission 2025,' the drills involve coordinated maneuvers across the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, deploying army, naval, air, and rocket forces.
Military analysts note this marks the first confirmed PLA drone operation over central Taipei during live exercises. The released footage, verified as authentic by regional security experts, shows the unmanned aircraft circling the 508-meter tower amid commercial air traffic. PLA spokesperson Senior Colonel Li Xi described the drills as 'necessary countermeasures to separatist provocations,' emphasizing they demonstrate capabilities to 'defend national sovereignty.'
Taiwan authorities condemned the exercises as 'destabilizing,' with defense officials claiming to have monitored 42 PLA aircraft and 15 naval vessels near the island on Monday. Cross-strait tensions remain elevated following recent political developments, though Beijing maintains the activities fall within its sovereign rights.
The drills coincide with heightened regional security discussions ahead of January's APEC Leaders’ Meeting, where members are expected to address escalating military activities across Asia. Business leaders have expressed concerns about potential impacts on shipping lanes, while academics highlight the need for renewed diplomatic dialogue to prevent miscalculations.
