Starting April 1, the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) began organizing joint land, sea, air, and rocket force drills around Taiwan Island. On April 2, the command conducted the “Strait Thunder-2025A” exercise in central and southern waters of the Taiwan Strait. China’s state news agency Xinhua wrote, “These actions serve as a serious warning and a strong deterrent against the Lai Ching-te administration and ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”
“Every time the Taiwan independence forces take a provocative step, every time our countermeasures and punishment will go one step further.”
During this round of joint exercises, the PLA deployed warships and aircraft from multiple directions in close proximity to Taiwan. Key focus areas included:
- Combat readiness patrols at sea and in the air
- Seizing comprehensive control of strategic domains
- Precision strikes against sea and land targets
- Blockade and control of critical regions and passages
The “Strait Thunder-2025A” drill specifically focused on:
- Identification and verification of targets
- Issuing warnings and driving off intrusions
- Intercepting and detaining hostile elements
“The exercise tested the PLA’s capabilities in regional control, joint blockade operations, and precision strikes. It also included live-fire long-range missile drills in parts of the East China Sea, targeting simulated objectives such as key ports and energy facilities.”
Source: Xinhua, April 3, 2025
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