China launches largescale military "deterrence" operation around Taiwan

[Bronco 25,097]

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6272943

China’s Eastern Theater Command announced on Sunday it has launched a military exercise named “Justice Mission 2025” covering areas surrounding Taiwan.

Eastern Theater Command Spokesperson Shi Yi said in a Weibo post that the drills test the command’s joint combat capabilities. The exercise will deploy forces from the army, navy, air force, and rocket force to conduct patrols, practice blockade maneuvers, and gain “complete control” of the surrounding area. Forces will also simulate establishing deterrence.

Chinese naval vessels and aircraft will also carry out joint strike operations near Taiwan. The exercise is “a stern warning against ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces,” Shi said, adding that “it is a legitimate and necessary action” to protect China’s sovereignty.

This is the first time the Eastern Theatre Command has mentioned deterrence to prevent foreign military intervention, Reuters reported. The command designated five zones around Taiwan for live-fire drills on Tuesday that will be subject to sea and airspace restrictions for 10 hours, beginning at 8:30 a.m., per Reuters. 

Reuters pointed out that this is China's sixth large-scale military exercise since former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022. The exercise also follows Japan Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's comment in November that Chinese military actions against Taiwan, such as a naval blockade, could prompt Japan to take action.  

Taiwan’s Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said in a statement on Monday that the military and national security agencies have complete situational awareness and have made thorough preparations. Kuo criticized the exercise, saying that it undermines stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region and challenges international law and order. 

“Taiwan strongly condemns the Chinese authorities for disregarding international norms and using military intimidation to threaten neighboring countries,” Kuo said.

She called on Beijing to exercise restraint and cease such “irresponsible and provocative actions.”

 

[Bronco 25,097]

If anyone is starting a 2026 bingo card you can now add the following free spaces: 
Trump invades Venezuela
China occupies/blockades Taiwan causing the AI bubble to burst. 

[Debithius 6,056]

The AI bubble will burst and the economy will crash.

[PartySick 172,527]

23 minutes ago, Bronco said:

The exercise is “a stern warning against ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces,” Shi said, adding that “it is a legitimate and necessary action” to protect China’s sovereignty.

I don't really understand the conflict at its core I fear.

Why would China (or any country for that matter) want to retain a portion of territory populated by people who view themselves as disloyal or separate from that nation? 

Would it be so damaging to allow the people of Taiwan to be their own country and forge their own way separate from China? 

Trampling on the sovereignty of individuals, communities, and larger populations is just something I never understood. From Ukraine to Palestine to Venezuela to Taiwan or anywhere else.

[Roughhouse Dandy 13,612]

Can someone point me to info on how this relates to the AI bubble? 

[Bronco 25,097]

10 minutes ago, PartySick said:

I don't really understand the conflict at its core I fear.

Why would China (or any country for that matter) want to retain a portion of territory populated by people who view themselves as disloyal or separate from that nation? 

Would it be so damaging to allow the people of Taiwan to be their own country and forge their own way separate from China? 

Trampling on the sovereignty of individuals, communities, and larger populations is just something I never understood. From Ukraine to Palestine to Venezuela to Taiwan or anywhere else.

So in regards to Taiwan, part of it is about the propaganda that maintains the CCP's one party state. The other part of it is resources control over Taiwan expands its territory which is important for economic and defensive matters. 
Also Taiwan is a major chip supplier for western business. So it is strategically important on that front as well.

11 minutes ago, Roughhouse Dandy said:

Can someone point me to info on how this relates to the AI bubble? 

Because of semiconductor chips. Taiwan is the single largest producer globally, it has the worlds largest factory in TSMC and multiple other major chip suppliers to western tech companies.
The world runs because of Taiwan's industry basically. If China were to blockade/occupy Taiwan, it would massively disrupt the global economy. It would also essentially allow China to run the entire global tech industry which is predominately based in the US/US allies currently. 

[Lucas 31,120]

GREAT this is exactly the type of news that the world needed...

[PartySick 172,527]

13 minutes ago, Bronco said:

So in regards to Taiwan, part of it is about the propaganda that maintains the CCP's one party state. The other part of it is resources control over Taiwan expands its territory which is important for economic and defensive matters. 
Also Taiwan is a major chip supplier for western business. So it is strategically important on that front as well.

Truly I have the naive spirit of an innocent child 'cause, to me, if your government can't stand without the resources of a territory trying to claim it's independence and your propaganda can't stand without the subjugation of the 20 million or so people who live in that territory then the real problem is your economy needs to explore other sources of wealth and your values need adjusting.

In other words, I understand it, but it certainly doesn't make sense  

[dit 46,738]

if there is ANY semblance of a clash in that area then we are officially in world war 3. Just know that guys. 

US and ISrael are planning to bomb Iran again, US is bombing Venezuela and Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine, Israel still killing kids in Gaza etc...ALL horrible BUT the second China and Taiwan have some clash or whatever then the US and Japan will jump in and it will officially be world war 3 with even HUGER death tolls. The conflict in the China and Taiwan sea area is going to be a global disaster with enormous death tolls to the point that the West will likely begin conscripting and forcing men into the war. Watch.

[PartySick 172,527]

48 minutes ago, dit said:

if there is ANY semblance of a clash in that area then we are officially in world war 3. Just know that guys. 

US and ISrael are planning to bomb Iran again, US is bombing Venezuela and Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine, Israel still killing kids in Gaza etc...ALL horrible BUT the second China and Taiwan have some clash or whatever then the US and Japan will jump in and it will officially be world war 3 with even HUGER death tolls. The conflict in the China and Taiwan sea area is going to be a global disaster with enormous death tolls to the point that the West will likely begin conscripting and forcing men into the war. Watch.

Call me crazy but I feel like US leadership isn't competent enough atm to go to war properly.

Idk, we blew up some fishermen off the coast of South America and it basically turned the top of the chain of command in the US military on its head. Then we sent destroyers to block oil tankers from leaving Venezuela and they basically said "lol yeah right" and kept sailing as we did nothing but stand there embarrassed.

Everything else is for sure scary and Trump's America is reckless but it's far from fearsome.

But that's the part of me that feels the world has grown past outright conflicts like large-scale war. Call me 

1 hour ago, PartySick said:

naive

 

[Ladle Ghoulash 52,826]

7 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Call me crazy but I feel like US leadership isn't competent enough atm to go to war properly.

Idk, we blew up some fishermen off the coast of South America and it basically turned the top of the chain of command in the US military on its head. Then we sent destroyers to block oil tankers from leaving Venezuela and they basically said "lol yeah right" and kept sailing as we did nothing but stand there embarrassed.

Everything else is for sure scary and Trump's America is reckless but it's far from fearsome.

But that's the part of me that feels the world has grown past outright conflicts like large-scale war. Call me 

 

Call me naive. 
 

Xoxo, Naive

[PartySick 172,527]

Just now, Ladle Ghoulash said:

Call me naive. 
 

Xoxo, Naive

Take my hand, stay naive

The world won't be a better place just because it makes complete sense for people to be better to each other and all this hostility just creates more suffering for no real gain

Every part of my aching heart

Wishes these bullsh*t ass governments would fall to revolutionary causes already but power corrupts and any insurrection would just create instability and really it's hard to tell if an unknown and unpredictable outcome is better than a well known threat

GIRL WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING

[Bronco 25,097]

1 hour ago, dit said:

if there is ANY semblance of a clash in that area then we are officially in world war 3. Just know that guys. 

Honestly, despite all the bravado the only power that could possibly intervene is America. 

And I just don't see 2 global nuclear powers engaging in direct war. 

China's strategy, and has been for years, is to make Taiwan join peacefully. They may decide to blockade in 2026 to speed the process up, but if China wanted to take Taiwan by force it could and would have done it by now. 

40 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Call me crazy but I feel like US leadership isn't competent enough atm to go to war properly.

Even if it were competent, the nuclear nations don't want to fight eachother (otherwise the US would have intervened in Ukraine directly under Biden). If they did, China would have used direct military action far sooner on Taiwan or fought India by now. 

I personally firmly believe that Trump & Putin agreed in Alaska to give Europe to Russia and Latin Am to America and by proxy will open East Asia & Oceania to China.

[Lord Mayhem 3,428]

3 hours ago, PartySick said:

I don't really understand the conflict at its core I fear.

Why would China (or any country for that matter) want to retain a portion of territory populated by people who view themselves as disloyal or separate from that nation? 

Would it be so damaging to allow the people of Taiwan to be their own country and forge their own way separate from China? 

Trampling on the sovereignty of individuals, communities, and larger populations is just something I never understood. From Ukraine to Palestine to Venezuela to Taiwan or anywhere else.

Power...control...greed...resources...legacy...nationalism...etc

None of these are good reasons but they are the driving forces no matter. 

2026 isn't looking to be a great year...it's looking more like this might be the year the camel holding up the earth will finally break its back and send everything into chaos...

[Snejana 1,024]

3 hours ago, PartySick said:

Why would China (or any country for that matter) want to retain a portion of territory populated by people who view themselves as disloyal or separate from that nation?

imo its 3 things

1) the century of humiliation; bc to the chinese government Taiwan is a constant reminder of China's defeat in the first sino-japanese war. the CCP was able to restore control over lost territories during the wars (hong-kong/tibet) except Taiwan.

2) Domestic/Foreign policies: Reclaiming control over the island is at the core of the very nationalistic One China policy, to unify China under one government and once again Taiwan is a central piece. Also in the eyes of the CCP and its rulers having an independent territory such as Taiwan, represents a threat to the party's legitimacy and sovereignty over the the People's Republic of China. 

3) Control over the South China Sea: a bit self explanatory, controling the area would give China even more leverage in the global economy bc its a major trading route rich in resources with easy access to the rest of the planet

I'd also argue this military strategy is in some way connected to the internationalization of the Renminbi. ever since the 2008 global crisis the CCP redirected its monetary international policy efforts towards the internationalization of its currency, to be less dependent on the dollar and begin to stablish a new global Hegemony. Given Taiwan's economic relevance its not that far-fetched to think that controling Taiwan would be a massive step towards the internationalization of the chinese currency. For instance: Instead of trading in dollars, the reminbi would be the currency of choice in strategic bilateral agreements (like the one Between Brazil and China) giving China even more relevance in the international system 

Edited December 29, 2025 by Snejana