China Rings Taiwan With Live-Fire Drills After $11B US Arms Deal, Tensions Spike Across Indo-Pacific

China has launched large-scale joint live-fire military drills around Taiwan, escalating tensions in the region weeks after the United States approved an $11 billion arms package for Taipei. The drills, code-named Justice Mission 2025, are being conducted by the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command across the Taiwan Strait and multiple directions around the island. Taiwan has responded by strengthening reservist training and drone operations, warning against Chinese provocation. The development comes amid strong reactions from the US, Taiwan, and regional players, raising concerns over peace, stability, and the growing risk of military confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.