The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command has released coordinates for five military exercise zones in waters near the Taiwan Strait, scheduled for December 30, 2025. The 10-hour drills will involve live-fire activities from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time, covering strategic maritime areas east of Fujian province and southwest of Taiwan region.
Military analysts note the exercises occur in critical shipping lanes and airspace corridors, with safety advisories urging civilian vessels and aircraft to avoid designated zones. The announcement follows recent statements from Beijing emphasizing combat readiness and national sovereignty protection.
Taiwan authorities have acknowledged the drills, with the leader of the Taiwan region calling for 'calm and restraint.' Observers highlight the timing coincides with the 30th anniversary of cross-strait dialogue initiatives established in 1995, though no official connection has been confirmed.
Business communities are monitoring potential supply chain impacts, particularly for semiconductor shipments transiting the strait. Travel advisories remain unchanged, but maritime operators are rerouting some cargo vessels as a precaution.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command stated these are 'routine exercises aimed at maintaining regional stability,' while regional security experts suggest they demonstrate evolving naval-air coordination capabilities. Live-fire drills in these coordinates last occurred in August 2025 during annual summer exercises.
