The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command has released coordinates for live-fire military drills scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on December 30, 2025 – just one day from today. The exercises will cover five designated zones in waters and airspace near the Taiwan Strait, according to an official notice.
🚢 Key coordinates span areas east of Fujian province and north of the Taiwan region, with safety warnings issued for commercial and civilian vessels. The PLA emphasized these are routine exercises aimed at maintaining combat readiness, stating: "Any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter the aforementioned areas during this period."
🌏 Analysts note the timing follows recent cross-strait dialogues about trade and transportation safety. While the drills fall within international law, some shipping companies have already adjusted routes through the busy Taiwan Strait – a critical channel for $5 trillion in annual global trade.
📡 The announcement comes as regional governments monitor China's military modernization program, which entered its "Phase III" upgrades earlier this year. Social media reactions range from memes about "New Year's fireworks coming early" 🎆 to serious discussions about maritime safety protocols.
