The Chinese military continued its ‘Taiwan encirclement’ drills for the second day after six months.
Spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command noted on the official social media account on the morning of the 2nd (local time) that “on the 2nd, the Eastern Theater Command will organize the ‘Strait Rating (雷霆·Thunder)-2025A’ exercise in relevant waters of the central and southern Taiwan Strait.” The spokesperson said, “The focus will be on conducting investigation, identification, warning, eviction, interception, and seizure, testing the troops’ area control, joint blockade, and precision strike capabilities.
In a subsequent announcement, he said, “The Eastern Theater Army conducted long-range live-fire training in the East Sea (East China Sea) according to the ‘Strait Rating-2025A’ plan,” adding, “We achieved expected results in precise strikes on simulated targets such as important ports and energy facilities.”
The Eastern Theater began encirclement drills surrounding Taiwan by mobilizing the army, navy, air force, and rocket force the day before. The Ministry of National Defense stated in an announcement the day before that the Chinese military mobilized 13 warships, 4 coast guard vessels, and 71 military aircraft, helicopters, and drones to conduct joint military exercises in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan starting at 7:21 a.m. Additionally, it explained that there were 8 aircraft carrier groups in the western Pacific, approximately 220 nautical miles (about 407 km) east of southern Taiwan, including the Chinese military's second aircraft carrier, Shandong.
The Chinese military's Taiwan encirclement drills mark six months since the ‘Joint Exercise Lijian (利劍·Sharp Sword)-2024B,’ executed following Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's remarks at National Day (Double Tenth Day) last October.
This Taiwan encirclement exercise is interpreted as targeting Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who has defined China as a ‘hostile force’ and announced measures such as detecting spies within the Taiwanese military and restricting cross-strait (China and Taiwan) exchanges, along with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).