China’s Strait Thunder-2025A Military Drills: Provocations and Regional Implications
On April 2, 2025, China concluded its two-day military exercises around Taiwan, code-named Strait Thunder-2025A. These large-scale drills involved simulated strikes on critical infrastructure such as ports and energy installations, as well as naval blockades. The exercises featured 21 warships, including the Shandong aircraft carrier, and 71 aircraft, including fighter jets and reconnaissance planes. The maneuvers, conducted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, were described by Beijing as a “stern warning” against Taiwanese independence movements.
Taiwan’s President William Lai condemned the drills as provocations that threaten regional stability, while China framed them as necessary actions to safeguard its sovereignty. The exercises come amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei, exacerbated by Taiwan’s pro-independence stance and growing U.S. support for the island.
Details of the Strait Thunder-2025A Drills
The PLA’s Strait Thunder-2025A drills were conducted in the central and southern regions of the Taiwan Strait and extended into the East China Sea. According to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, the exercises focused on:
