The Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan from Dec. 29 to 30, including live-fire drills. Taiwan’s defense and coast guard units maintained a high level of alert in response. The exercises officially concluded on Dec. 31.
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) held an emergency press briefing in the evening. Lt. Gen. Hsieh Jih-sheng, Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Staff Office, stated that on Dec. 30 the PLA Eastern Theater Command launched a total of 27 multiple-launch rocket rounds from two locations—Pingtan and Shishi in Fujian—toward waters north of Taiwan and the southwest maritime area. Some impact zones were as close as the area around Taiwan’s 24-nautical-mile coastal line. The MND said none of the projectiles flew over Taiwan’s airspace, but the drills severely affected international aviation safety.
At the same time, Taiwan’s military detected 71 sorties of PLA aircraft throughout the day, including 35 that crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait into northern, central, and southwestern airspace. Additionally, 13 PLA vessels and 15 China Coast Guard ships entered the contiguous zone, along with movements by an amphibious assault ship formation in the western Pacific. The MND immediately activated its response center and conducted readiness drills.
Hsieh explained that the PLA carried out two waves of launches: the first at 9 a.m., firing 17 rockets from Pingtan, with impact areas 70 nautical miles northeast of Keelung and no overflight of Taiwan; the second at 1 p.m., firing 10 rockets from Shishi, Quanzhou, with impact areas 50 nautical miles west of Tainan.
Hsieh emphasized that the targeted exercises not only intimidated Taiwan but also seriously disrupted international aviation safety. According to the Civil Aviation Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, 941 international transit civil flights were affected, along with a certain number of commercial and fishing vessels operating in the exercise zones.
Coast Guard drives away Chinese Coast Guard ships, refuting CCP media claims of a ‘blockade’
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Even after the exercises ended, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said that from the morning of Dec. 29 through the evening of Dec. 31, a total of 14 Chinese Coast Guard vessels were detected lingering in waters around Taiwan. Working with national security agencies and using joint surveillance measures, the CGA conducted one-to-one monitoring throughout and broadcast warnings to drive the vessels away, ensuring safe navigation for domestic and international shipping. It noted that port operations were not affected.
The CGA stated that the CCP violated international norms by using military coercion in the Taiwan Strait and waters near major ports to intimidate neighboring countries, disrupting navigation and passenger safety in Taiwan’s waters. This behavior not only threatens Taiwan but also undermines peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Such irresponsible actions are not a force for justice but a source of regional trouble.
The CGA stressed that claims by CCP state media that Taiwan’s major ports were “blockaded” are false information intended to mislead the public. Taiwan will continue round-the-clock monitoring of surrounding activity and adhere to the principles of “no provocation, no retreat, no conflict,” firmly safeguarding maritime security and sovereignty.
Although the exercises have been declared over, the MND said PLA aircraft and vessels are still operating near the response zones. The military will continue appropriate countermeasures and close monitoring, emphasizing that necessary defensive and surveillance actions are in place to maintain regional stability and national security.
