China holds drills in five maritime zones near Taiwan

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command is conducting large-scale military exercises with live-fire drills near Taiwan.

The manoeuvres will take place across five maritime areas and the airspace above them, including parts of the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the Philippine Sea, with coordinates released by the command, Caliber.Az reports, citing Xinhua.

According to the theater command, the training focuses on hunting and neutralising targets in waters and airspace, simulated strikes on ground targets, and live firing against targets in waters.

The drills aim to test the troops’ capabilities in integrated coordination and seizing dominance.

Frequent large‑scale PLA exercises around Taiwan have become part of China’s broader strategy to deter perceived moves toward Taiwanese independence and to rehearse scenarios such as blockades or joint operations.

These drills are closely watched by the United States and regional partners, who view them as contributing to rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and potentially increasing the risk of miscalculation or conflict.

By Jeyhun Aghazada