China has acted provocatively yet again when it staged a long-ranged, live fire drill in the East China Sea Wednesday, April 2, escalating tensions around contested Taiwan.
The region is already rife with constant military exercises and patrols in the contested waters between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China (China).
The People’s Republic stated that it was conducting precision strikes on port and energy facilities, although it has yet to provide clearer details. This further escalated tensions in the region when PRC called Taiwan President Lai 3 Ching-te a “parasite” Tuesday, April 1, following a visit from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The drill is part of China’s ongoing military pressure campaign, which the People’s Liberation Army has branded “Strait Thunder-2025A,” involving coordinated operations by missile forces, warships, and aircraft.The drill aimed to simulate high-precision joint strikes on maritime and infrastructure targets, according to the PLA Eastern Theater Command.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense responded by scrambling aircraft and deploying naval vessels to monitor PLA movement. It condemned the drills as a violation of regional peace and warned that China’s actions pose a direct threat to security in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth reaffirmed the support of the U.S. for Taiwan during his recent visit, describing China’s maneuvers as “dangerous and destabilizing.” He also announced the restructuring of U.S. Forces Japan into a joint force headquarters, a move seen as a counter to China’s growing military footprint in East Asia.
In recent months, the PLA has increased the frequency of its drills near Taiwan, including mock blockades and amphibious landing exercises. Taiwan’s Air Defense
Identification Zone (ADIZ) has recorded a surge in PLA aircraft incursions since January 2025. Beijing continues to assert its claim over Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province of China.
The Chinese government has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. As military drills expanding into the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, the risk of miscalculation grows. Regional powers and defense analysts are closely watching the developments as the PLA tests its readiness and signals strategic intent.
