Taiwan remained on high alert on Wednesday after China announced the conclusion of large-scale military drills conducted around the island earlier this week.
Authorities in Taipei kept emergency response mechanisms active, citing the continued presence of Chinese aircraft and vessels in nearby areas.
The drills, named Justice Mission 2025, involved extensive naval, air, and rocket operations that prompted heightened monitoring by Taiwan’s military and coast guard.
While Chinese ships began moving away from Taiwan late Tuesday, officials said vigilance would continue until activity fully subsides.
China said late Wednesday that the exercises had been completed, while adding that its military would remain on high alert and continue strengthening combat readiness.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said a considerable number of Chinese assets were still operating within its response zones, justifying ongoing alert measures.
Over a 24-hour period, Taiwan detected 77 Chinese military aircraft and 25 naval and coast guard vessels around the island.
Of those aircraft, 35 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwanese defense officials.
Live-fire components of the drills included rocket launches, with several projectiles landing in waters close to Taiwan’s contiguous zone.
Taiwan condemned the exercises as destabilizing and described them as a direct security challenge.
Chinese authorities characterized the drills as a necessary step to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Officials described the maneuvers as a "stern warning" against what Beijing calls separatist forces and external interference.
President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s position in a New Year address, stating that reunification remains an inevitable historical trend.
Taiwan’s government rejected China’s claims and said the drills reflected a broader pattern of military coercion.
The scale of the exercises led Taiwan to cancel domestic flights and deploy additional air and naval patrols.
Diplomats from countries in the Quad grouping met in Beijing during the drills, while several governments in Europe and the Asia-Pacific voiced concern and urged restraint.
Taiwanese officials said emergency response centers would stay active as a precaution, even as Chinese vessels continue to depart the area.