Taipei-(LM) China’s military has concluded two days of military exercises around Taiwan, which included “long-range live-fire drills” aimed at simulating strikes on key ports and energy facilities on the island. The exercises, known as Strait Thunder-2025A, have drawn sharp criticism from the United States, which accused Beijing of escalating tensions in the region.
In a statement, the Chinese military claimed it had “completed all designated tasks” during the drills, which involved precision strikes on simulated targets. Senior Col. Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, asserted that the exercises were designed to test the troops’ capabilities in areas such as blockade and control.
A video released by the Chinese military depicted troops rapidly mobilizing, launching a barrage of rockets, and displaying animated images of fires erupting across Taiwan, including in key cities like Tainan, Hualien, and Taichung, which host critical military installations and ports. The video concluded with messages emphasizing the control of energy corridors and disruption of supply routes.
The Shandong aircraft carrier group participated in the exercises, conducting integrated naval and air operations alongside “multi-dimensional blockade and control” drills. The general locations for the drills, situated in the middle and southern areas of the Taiwan Strait, seemed to focus on practicing the disruption of shipping lanes vital to Taiwan and the broader global economy, according to military experts.
As tensions continue to rise, these military maneuvers underscore the complex security dynamics in the region and the challenges posed by China’s growing military assertiveness.
Leadership Magazine-Somalia
