Drills demonstrate China's resolve to defend sovereignty against external interference

The joint military drills "Justice Mission 2025" around the Taiwan island，starting Monday morning，serve as a powerful deterrent against external interference and a clear warning that any attempt to cross the red line regarding Taiwan will be met with resolute countermeasures.

The drills, conducted by the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast, and east of the Taiwan island, are part of a series of Beijing's responses to the US arms sales to Taiwan as well as a warning to the Lai Ching-te authorities in Taiwan.

The United States recently announced a record-breaking $11.1 billion arms sale to China's Taiwan region, which once again exposes a deep contradiction between Washington's words and deeds. On the one hand, the US repeatedly claims that it "does not support Taiwan independence" and that it adheres to the one-China policy. On the other hand, it continues to push forward massive arms packages — this time including systems with clear offensive characteristics.

Such behavior is not only a serious breach of the one-China principle and the three China–US joint communiques, but also a blatant interference in China's internal affairs and an open challenge to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The consequences of such massive arms sales are severe and multifaceted. The US is not "maintaining a balance" but is instead emboldening "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to take increasingly dangerous risks. These sales act as a catalyst for tension, transforming the Taiwan Strait into a potential flashpoint for conflict.

The scale and content of "Justice Mission 2025" reflect what a Ministry of National Defense spokesman stated on Dec 19 in response to US arms sales to Taiwan that the PLA will continue to strengthen training and combat readiness, take "forceful measures" to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely thwart "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference.

By conducting the drills, China is exercising its legitimate right to defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and demonstrate that any attempt to use Taiwan to contain China, or seek "independence" by force, is a dead end. Its justification, righteousness, and necessity are beyond doubt. Through such exercises, the PLA is accumulating firsthand data and experiences on sea conditions, weather, weapon usage, and multi-service coordination. Every US arms sale to Taiwan will only strengthen the Chinese people's resolve to maintain national unity, and each arms sale will urge the PLA to improve its combat readiness, pushing "Taiwan independence" separatists closer to their ultimate demise.

China's complete national reunification is an unstoppable historical trend that no force can prevent. By relying on US arms to resist reunification with the motherland, the separatist forces of Taiwan are doing nothing but sacrificing the safety and well-being of the residents of the island and using their hard-earned money to enrich US arms dealers. Ultimately, this will only lead to the secessionists' own destruction.

Washington should realize that the disruption of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region is not in the interest of the US itself and its allies at all. The US side is urged to earnestly fulfill its commitment not to support "Taiwan independence" and immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan and cease testing Beijing's resolve to defend its first red line and the core of China's core interest.