Khaberni - China confirmed on Wednesday that it has "successfully completed" its military maneuvers around Taiwan, which included live ammunition training to simulate sieges on major ports and attacks on naval targets.
Eastern Theater Command spokesman for the People's Liberation Army, Captain Li Xi said in a statement, "The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army has successfully completed the exercises, named Justice Mission 2025."
He stated that the forces will continue training "to firmly counter the attempts of separatists demanding independence for Taiwan and foreign interventions."
On Monday and Tuesday, China launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets, naval ships, and coast guard vessels around the island as part of military maneuvers.
Taipei condemned the two-day maneuvers, describing them as "a blatant provocation to regional security and the international order."
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out annexation by force if necessary.
Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed on Wednesday that reunification of the country is inevitable.
The state news agency "Xinhua" quoted Jinping in his speech for the New Year 2026 in Beijing, saying "the reunification of our homeland, which is on the horizon, is unstoppable."
Deputy Director-General of the Coast Guard, Hsieh Hsing-Shin told AFP that "the warships and coast guard vessels are withdrawing, but some still remain outside the 24 nautical mile line," adding "the maneuvers are supposed to have ended."
Hsieh said that the Taiwanese coast guard has kept 11 ships on sea deployment as the Chinese coast guard vessels "have not yet fully left the area," adding, "we cannot lower our guard."
- International Condemnations -
These maneuvers conducted by China near Taiwan triggered a wave of condemnations.
Tokyo warned on Wednesday that these maneuvers "escalate tensions" in the region, while the Australian Foreign Ministry criticized the Chinese military exercises as "destabilizing," and the Philippines expressed "serious concern."
The Philippine Defense Ministry also expressed "serious concern" about the military maneuvers, considering them a threat to "undermine peace and stability in the region."
The maneuvers also worried the European Union, Germany, and France, all three reiterated their commitment to "international stability."
Meanwhile, Beijing, which has not yet officially announced the end of the maneuvers, denounced the countries that criticized its military maneuvers as "irresponsible."
The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, during a press conference on Wednesday, stated, "These countries and institutions overlook the separatist forces in Taiwan that seek independence through military means."
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te warned on Friday that these Chinese military maneuvers "are not an isolated incident" and pose "serious risks" to the region.
During a ceremony held with members of the armed forces in Taipei, Lai Ching-te said, "The rising authoritarian influence of China and its escalating coercive actions pose a significant risk to regional stability, and also have implications for maritime transport, trade, and peace."
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese army, in a statement, affirmed that these maneuvers in the waters north and south of Taiwan allowed them to "test the capabilities of coordinated air and sea control and integrated siege and control capabilities."
However, Hsieh Jie Sheng, a senior intelligence official at the Taiwanese Defense Ministry, considered the maneuvers unsuccessful, telling reporters, "Regarding their intention to impose a siege, I believe our coast guard has clarified that the siege did not actually occur."
The military maneuver also follows a new American arms deal to Taipei in mid-December, the second since the return of Donald Trump to presidency, worth a total of $11.1 billion.
