Named “Justice Mission 2025,” the drills involve live-firing in five locations surrounding Taiwan and off the Chinese coast, as naval and air force units practice strikes on maritime and aerial targets and anti-submarine operations.

The exercises began 11 days after the US announced an $11.1 billion arms package to Taiwan.

A senior Taiwan security official said Taipei is monitoring whether China will fire missiles over Taiwan, as it did during previous drills in 2022.

The exercises also appear to include practice strikes on land-based targets such as US-made HIMARS rocket systems.

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te called China’s exercises “inconsistent with the conduct expected of a responsible major power,” adding that frontline troops are ready to defend the island while avoiding escalation.

Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed debris from the drills entered its contiguous zone to the north.

The drills affect commercial flight routes, but disruption to international flights remains minimal.

Fourteen Chinese coastguard vessels continued to operate around Taiwan’s waters, engaging in standoffs with Taiwanese vessels.

Taiwan employed manoeuvres to force some Chinese ships to retreat.

China’s military said the drills test coordination between sea and air forces for integrated containment and simulate a blockade of Taiwan’s major ports at Keelung and Kaohsiung.

The exercises involved 130 military aircraft and 22 navy and coastguard vessels in the 24 hours up to Tuesday morning.

A Pentagon report cited by Reuters indicates China aims to be able to “fight and win a war on Taiwan by the end of 2027,” though internal military reforms and anti-corruption campaigns have raised questions about its readiness.