China Conducts Second Day of Military Drills Around Taiwan, Names Exercise ‘Strait Thunder-2025A’

China’s military continued its large-scale drills around Taiwan for a second day on Wednesday, officially naming the exercises “Strait Thunder-2025A” for the first time. Beijing stated that the drills aim to strengthen its ability to blockade Taiwan and carry out precision strikes.

The exercises come amid heightened tensions, following China’s intensified rhetoric against Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, whom it recently labeled a “parasite.” They also coincide with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Asia, where he repeatedly criticized Beijing’s military assertiveness.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has long denounced Lai as a “separatist.” Lai, who was elected and took office last year, maintains that Taiwan’s future should be determined solely by its people, rejecting Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

China’s Eastern Theatre Command confirmed that the drills are focused on Taiwan’s middle and southern maritime zones, including areas near Taiwan’s outlying islands. The exercises involve identification and verification procedures, warning and expulsion maneuvers, and interception drills to test the military’s ability to enforce a blockade and conduct precision strikes.

Taiwan Condemns Drills, Reports Chinese Warships in Response Zone

Taiwan has strongly criticized Beijing’s military activities but stated that, so far, no live-fire exercises have been detected. A senior Taiwanese security official told Reuters that over 10 Chinese warships had entered Taiwan’s “response zone” by Wednesday morning. The Chinese coast guard was also conducting “harassment” drills in the area.

Tuesday’s drills were unnamed, but China has previously used titles such as “Joint Sword-2024A” and “Joint Sword-2024B” for major military exercises around Taiwan. The state-run Global Times reported that the latest drills featured advanced weaponry, including YJ-21 air-launched ballistic missiles mounted on H-6K bombers.

International Condemnation and Regional Concerns

The United States, Taiwan’s primary international backer and arms supplier, condemned China’s military actions. The U.S. State Department warned that Beijing’s aggressive maneuvers escalate tensions and threaten regional security.

Japan and the European Union also voiced concerns. An EU spokesperson emphasized that the bloc opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion.

Taiwan has faced the threat of a Chinese invasion since 1949, when the Republic of China government retreated to the island after losing the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong’s communist forces. Despite ongoing tensions, the two sides have not engaged in direct conflict for decades.