By Jun Sheng
The Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command on December 30, 2025, continued to organize relevant forces to carry out the "Justice Mission 2025" exercise, sending a clear message to the outside world that China possesses a wide array of means and tools to punish "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and counter external interference, and its denial and countermeasures are resolute and effective. The Taiwan Strait will absolutely not tolerate any delusions of "seeking independence through provocation," nor any external attempts to fan the flames or harbor designs on it.
Reckless defiance of history will inevitably invite backlash. As a quintessential troublemaker, source of instability, and war provocateur, Lai Ching-te, for the sake of narrow and ignoble political gains, has obstinately pursued a "Taiwan independence" agenda, cynically exploiting ideological divisions and deepening social fragmentation on the island. His words and deeds have aroused both public indignation and widespread resentment. Recently, an online petition calling for the "impeachment of Lai Ching-te" has already attracted participation from more than eight million people. Large numbers of Taiwan compatriots have voiced profound disappointment and strong anger over Lai Ching-te's disregard for people's livelihoods, his trampling of public rights and interests, his promotion of "green terror," and his deliberate provocation of cross-Strait confrontation.
A useful fool will eventually become an abandoned tool. Pathologically obsessed with so-called "security guarantees" promised by the US, recklessly soliciting external support for Taiwan independence, and resisting reunification through force, Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities have taken these illusions as the very basis for their irresponsible conduct. Yet from Iraq to Syria, from Afghanistan to Ukraine, the world has long seen clearly that US politicians treat "friends" as nothing more than cash machines, turning arms sales into instruments of destruction. All those who willingly allow themselves to be used as "pawns" will, in the end, meet only one fate to be ruthlessly discarded as expendable pieces.
Provoking conflict will inevitably invite severe punishment. In response to the repeated provocations of "Taiwan independence" separatists, the range of countermeasures at our disposal has become increasingly comprehensive and ever more effective. From "Joint Sword" to "Strait Thunder," and now to "Justice Mission," the series of military exercises conducted in the vicinity of the Taiwan island has steadily tightened the noose around the necks of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and sharpened the sword hanging over their heads.
The more rampant the "Taiwan independence" undercurrent becomes, the stronger the resolve for national reunification grows. This exercise sent three powerful and unmistakable signals. The first is the tightening of the chain. The exercise areas moved closer to the Taiwan island than ever before. The second is a three-sided encirclement. Five designated zones formed a strong posture of joint deterrence and pressure. The third is closing the door to defeat the enemy. The exercise was even more targeted and explicit in its objectives. It not only rehearsed strikes against the "Taiwan independence" separatists' core strongholds but also practiced the cutting off of key channels to firmly deny and block external interference.
From the effects demonstrated in the exercise, four salient characteristics are evident. The first is total coverage. Participating units practiced firepower coverage against Taiwan's warships and aircraft, missile positions, key military ports, ammunition depots, and logistics facilities, conducting multiple waves of strikes. All designated targets were placed within the PLA's firepower network, indicating the capability to neutralize enemy warfighting tools and eliminate their war potential at any time. The second is an island blockade. The exercise included drills to seal off major ports and critical sea and air routes around the island, demonstrating the capability to impose comprehensive control and denial. The third is precision strikes. Shortly after the exercise began, participating forces rapidly tracked and deterred mobile targets on the island with precision firepower. The clear intent is to ensure that weapons procured by the Taiwan authorities from external forces would face the risk of immediate destruction. The fourth is leadership decapitation. The exercise also simulated strikes against key symbolic targets associated with the leadership of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, signaling that the PLA retains the capability to impose precise punitive measures against the principal instigators at any moment.
Stronger punishment of "Taiwan independence" ensures greater stability in the Taiwan Strait. All arrangements for the exercises of the PLA conducted around the Taiwan island are justified, reasonable, and lawful. They are directed at "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, aiming at deterring collusion between "Taiwan independence" forces and outside powers that seek to destabilize the Taiwan Strait. These actions serve to fundamentally safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, uphold the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, and protect the vital interests of all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan. We hope that our Taiwan compatriots will join us in firmly opposing "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference, safeguarding the shared home of the Chinese nation, and working together to create a better future of national reunification and rejuvenation.
We once again solemnly warn all diehard "Taiwan independence" elements that, in the face of the overwhelming strength of the PLA, relying on foreign forces to sell out Taiwan and provoke conflict will lead nowhere, and attempts to stir up trouble will leave no escape. If they persist in going their own way and acting recklessly, the only outcome awaiting them is to be brought before the judgment of the people and nailed to the pillar of shame in history.