China Conducts Live-Fire Drills Encircling Taiwan in Escalation of Military Pressure

• Apr 2, 2025

China’s military held live-fire exercises simulating strikes on Taiwan’s ports and energy infrastructure, intensifying tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

China has launched large-scale live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, simulating attacks on key infrastructure including ports and energy facilities, according to a statement from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday.

Codenamed “Strait Thunder,” the drills follow similar military activities conducted just a day earlier and mark a significant escalation in Beijing’s pressure campaign against Taiwan — a self-ruled democratic island that China claims as its territory.

Taiwan’s presidential office issued a strong condemnation of what it called “military provocations,” warning that these increasingly routine drills are deepening cross-strait tensions.

The latest exercises coincide with intensified rhetoric from Beijing directed at Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te. China's state media and military have labelled him a “parasite” and “separatist,” responding to Lai’s recent comment describing China as a “foreign hostile force.”

The PLA said the drills serve as a “serious warning and powerful containment of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.” Accompanying its statement were provocative propaganda materials, including cartoons portraying President Lai as a parasite “poisoning Taiwan,” and another image showing him being grilled over fire. One PLA video, titled “Subdue demons and vanquish evils,” likened the military’s strength to the supernatural powers of the Monkey King, a legendary figure in Chinese folklore.

China’s state-run People’s Daily added to the barrage with a series of op-eds, branding Lai a “warmonger” and accusing him of inciting conflict. One article published Wednesday declared: “Facts have fully proven that Lai Ching-te is a vicious war maker.”

While the PLA did not specify a single event that triggered the exercises, observers believe the drills are a response to recent policies introduced by Lai aimed at countering Chinese influence operations — during which he referred to Beijing as a “hostile force.” Still, the timing suggests the exercises were deliberately delayed until after high-profile meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and global business leaders, including the Boao Forum that ended on March 28.

These military maneuvers also come as global attention is diverted elsewhere, with markets reacting to new tariffs from the Trump administration. The White House responded on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait. On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department reaffirmed its “enduring commitment” to Taiwan. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during a recent visit to Asia, criticized China's growing aggression and pledged continued deterrence, particularly in the Taiwan Strait.

Analysts believe the PLA is shifting toward regularized military exercises around Taiwan, rather than reacting to specific events. Some view these drills as rehearsal for a potential blockade or invasion — part of a broader strategy to pressure Taiwan’s population into accepting unification with mainland China.

Despite Beijing’s efforts, surveys consistently show that most Taiwanese people oppose any form of takeover by the Chinese Communist Party.

Taiwanese officials have warned that more drills may follow later this year, potentially coinciding with key dates like President Lai’s inauguration anniversary or Taiwan’s National Day in October.

Nonetheless, Taiwanese defense officials note that each PLA exercise offers an opportunity. By studying China’s military maneuvers, Taiwan can refine its own defenses and strengthen preparedness against any real-world conflict.