China to hold live-fire drills near Taiwan after US arms deal
Beijing has reacted angrily to the US approving a package of arms sales to Taiwan earlier this month worth up to $16.4 billion.
By Josh Xiao, Yian Lee and Nectar Gan
December 29, 2025 — 5.12pm
China has begun military manoeuvres around Taiwan that will include live-fire drills after the United States announced one of its biggest arms packages ever for the self-run democracy.
Taiwan said it was placing its forces on alert to defend the island in response, and called the Chinese government “the biggest destroyer of peace”, while Beijing said the exercises involving its navy, army, air force and rocket force served as a “stern warning” against separatist and “external interference” forces.
China plans to hold live-fire exercises near Taiwan tomorrow.Credit: AP
Taiwan warned the exercises posed a risk to aviation safety and shipping, with China planning to hold live-fire exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday, including in or near the Taiwan Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army said “any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter” the area.
Beijing has expressed anger at both US arms sales to the territory earlier this month, and a remark by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last month that Japan’s military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that the world’s second-biggest economy says must come under its rule.
But the Chinese military did not mention the US or Japan in its statement about the exercises on Monday morning.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses the media in Tokyo on December 17.Credit: Bloomberg
The drills underscore how sensitive the Taiwan question is to Beijing. It reacted angrily to the US approving a package of arms sales to Taiwan earlier this month worth up to $US11 billion ($16.4 billion), saying it raised the chances of a clash between the superpowers. On Friday, China unveiled largely symbolic sanctions against 20 US defence companies and 10 executives.
The exercises are the first major drills off Taiwan since April, when China’s People’s Liberation Army held two days of exercises to test blockade capabilities. Those manoeuvres also involved mock strikes on simulated targets including ports and energy facilities.