China’s military has conducted simulated attacks on high-value targets in Taiwan, carrying out “live-fire” drills around the self-ruled island on the second day of its war-game exercises.
The targets included ports and energy facilities.
The drills, held on Wednesday, are part of an operation called “Strait Thunder-2025A” and took place in the central and southern Taiwan Strait as well as the East China Sea.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command, stated that the exercises aimed to “test the troops’ capabilities” in areas such as “blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets.”
China’s military also released a video purportedly showing the live-fire drills, featuring rockets—rather than ballistic missiles—being launched and striking land-based targets.
The video included an animation of explosions over Taiwanese cities, including Tainan, Hualien, and Taichung, which host military bases and ports.