China on Monday launched large-scale live-fire military drills around Taiwan, deploying warships, fighter jets, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles in what Beijing described as a stern warning to supporters of Taiwanese independence and foreign powers, as the island placed its forces on high alert and vowed to defend its democracy.Taiwan’s defence ministry said that as of 3 pm, it had detected 89 Chinese military aircraft and drones, with 67 entering Taiwan’s response area.

China’s People’s Liberation Army said the exercises, code-named “Justice Mission 2025”, included live-fire training on maritime targets to the north and southwest of Taiwan. The PLA Eastern Theatre Command said the drills involved destroyers, frigates, aircraft and rocket forces and would continue into Tuesday, including simulated strikes and exercises aimed at blockading key ports.

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“This (the drills) serves as a serious warning to ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces and external interference forces,” said Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command.Taiwan’s military said it had activated its response mechanisms and deployed forces in reaction to the drills. “A response centre has been established, and appropriate forces have been deployed,” the military said, adding that its armed forces had carried out a rapid response exercise.

A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters that dozens of Chinese military aircraft and vessels were operating around the island, with some “deliberately closing in” on Taiwan’s contiguous zone, defined as 24 nautical miles from its coast.Taiwan’s defence ministry said Chinese aircraft and ships had been detected operating around the island over the past 24 hours and that the military remained on high alert.

“All members of our armed forces will remain highly vigilant and fully on guard, taking concrete action to defend the values of democracy and freedom,” the ministry said.Taiwan’s government condemned the exercises, while the defence ministry posted a video on Facebook showcasing weapons including US-made HIMARS rocket systems, which could strike coastal targets in China’s Fujian province in the event of a conflict.The coast guard said it had dispatched large vessels to respond to Chinese coast guard activity near Taiwan’s waters and was coordinating with the military to minimise disruption to shipping lanes and fishing areas. Taiwan’s aviation authority said China had designated a temporary danger zone in Taipei’s airspace for live-fire drills scheduled for Tuesday and that alternative flight routes were being assessed.The drills mark China’s sixth major round of war games around Taiwan since 2022 and come 11 days after the United States announced $11.1 billion in arms sales to the island. Beijing had protested the package and warned it would “take forceful measures” in response.Analysts say China’s exercises are increasingly blurring the line between routine training and preparations that could be used to mask an actual attack, reducing warning time for Taiwan and its allies.China’s state media said the drills would focus on sealing off key ports including Keelung in the north and Kaohsiung in the south. The PLA released posters depicting targets locked across the island, accompanied by slogans such as “Shields of Justice: Smashing Illusions” and “Arrows of Justice: Control and Denial”.“Any foreign interference that touches the shield (of justice) shall perish!” one poster read. “Any separatist scoundrels who encounter the shield shall be destroyed!”The exercises follow rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could warrant a military response from Japan.