Strait Thunder–2025A

Background

Military Exercise Process

1 April

2 April

3 April

Reactions

• Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, stated that the joint exercises conducted by the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army around Taiwan Island are a resolute punishment for the rampant provocations of the Lai Ching-te administration to seek "Taiwan independence", a solemn warning to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces who are deliberately undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait, and a necessary measure to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, responded to the remarks of relevant countries and international organizations at regular press conferences for three consecutive days:
• * Guo Jiakun stated at a regular press conference on 1 April that China's joint exercises are a serious warning and powerful deterrent to the separatist forces of "Taiwan independence", and are a legitimate and necessary action to defend national sovereignty and maintain national unity.
• * In response to the accusations of the United States, the European Union, and Japan on the military exercises, Guo Jiakun made a direct response at a regular press conference on 2 April, accusing these countries and organizations of condoning and supporting separatist actions of "Taiwan independence", undermining regional stability, and splitting China. He warned them to follow the general trend of the international community to uphold the One-China principle, abide by the political commitments made to China, respect China's sovereignty and Territorial integrity, and oppose any form of "Taiwan independence". At the same time, he stated that the joint exercises are a resolute punishment for the rampant presidency of Lai Ching-te administration for seeking "independence", a solemn warning to the separatist forces of "Taiwan independence" who deliberately undermine peace in the Taiwan Strait, and a responsible move to defend national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. Guo Jiakun also responded to the remarks made by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, saying that how to resolve the political status of Taiwan is the Chinese people's own business and that no one else should interfere. He advised the Philippines not to provoke and firmly opposed the relevant people's unfounded remarks that distorted the truth and slandered the country.
• * On 3 April, in response to the remarks made by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Guo Jiakun reiterated the legitimacy of the exercise and criticized Japan for interfering in China's internal affairs. He also pointed out that Japan had colonized and enslaved Taiwan for 50 years, and should be more cautious in its words and deeds. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of World War II and the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. China urges Japan to reflect on history, abide by the Four political documents between China and Japan, and adhere to the One-China principle.
• * On 6 April, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada responded to the remarks made by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries and the EU senior representative, saying that a small number of countries and organizations have disregarded facts, reversed right and wrong, and openly interfered in China's internal affairs. China is strongly dissatisfied with this, firmly opposes it, and will never accept it. China urges the relevant countries and organizations to follow the general trend of the international community to uphold the One-China principle, abide by the political commitments made to China, and immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs on the Taiwan issue.

• President Lai Ching-te of the Republic of China has instructed national security and defense agencies to deal with the situation strictly and have a comprehensive grasp of the relevant situation. As a member of the region, China has recently continued to engage in unilateral actions such as military provocations and maritime gray zone harassment in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. It is recognized by the international community as a troublemaker, and the Presidential Office strongly condemns this. Premier Zhuo Rongtai said that the defense agencies will remain highly vigilant. In the changing international *economic and trade situation, all governments should continue to care about social stability and people's lives in their countries. Blindly showing off military power abroad is not what a progressive society should see today.
• Ministry of National Defense (Republic of China)
• Minister Gu Lixiong said that the national army is paying attention to relevant developments at any time. A response center has been established at 9 am on 1 April. The situation will be fully understood and the response mechanism has been activated to respond appropriately. The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that from 6 am on 31 to 6 March am on the 1st, 19 ships were detected to have continued to operate around the Taiwan Strait, and released videos and photos of the ROCS Su Ao, Tian Dan ship, F-16AM/BM Block 20 fighter taking pictures of the Shandong ship, Yinchuan ship and other ships. Gu Lixiong also pointed out that the People's Liberation Army has related corruption problems and should solve internal problems instead of creating actions that undermine the peace status quo in the region.
• Liang Wenjie, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China, strongly condemned the CCP's joint exercises with Taiwan, which seriously undermined the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and the region, and continued military intimidation against Taiwan, confirming that the CCP is a "hostile foreign force."
• Kuomintang Chairman Eric Chu strongly condemned the military exercises against Taiwan when he presided over the Central Standing Committee Meeting on 2 April. He emphasized that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same culture and should maintain peace. All the military actions and exercises recently carried out by the PLA have not only not helped the cross-strait relations, but also seriously damaged the feelings of the people, and have not helped the stability of the region. The Kuomintang's position is firmly opposed to any disruption of regional balance and any impact on cross-strait peace. He also condemned the Democratic Progressive Party's behavior of forgetting its ancestors, excluding dissidents, relying on American forces, and undermining cross-strait peace and harmony on the occasion of the upcoming Qingming Festival.

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• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held trilateral talks and mentioned the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable factor for the security and prosperity of the international community. The United States, Japan, and South Korea expressed concern about China's provocative actions, especially the recent military exercises around Taiwan, and called on China to stop further destabilizing actions. They also encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, including through force or coercion. They also expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations.

G7+

• On the afternoon of 6 April, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) and Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas issued a joint statement, saying that we, the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the EU High Representative, express deep concern about China's provocative activities, especially the recent large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. These increasingly frequent and unstable activities have increased tensions across the Taiwan Strait and endangered the security and prosperity of the world. G7 members and the broader International community are concerned about maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any unilateral actions that threaten to undermine peace and stability, including resorting to force or coercion. G7 members continue to encourage the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to resolve issues peacefully through constructive dialogue.

• CNN commented that the Military exercises and drills of China|military exercise was a test of the US's resolve. The article quoted Taiwan's analysis that the military exercise was timed to coincide with the end of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's first trip to Asia and the resumption of the trade war|US-China trade war] and trade negotiations. Taiwan became an excuse for the military exercise, but Beijing intended to send a signal to Washington.
• U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce issued a statement saying that China's aggressive military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan will only increase tensions and put the region's security and world prosperity at risk. In the face of China's intimidation tactics and destabilizing behavior, the United States' enduring commitment to our allies and partners, including Taiwan, continues. The United States supports Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait|peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including through force or coercion.
• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded at a White House press briefing that the United States reaffirms its opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, emphasized the importance of maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. encourages the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues. The White House National Security Council has issued a briefing on the matter and also reiterated its opposition to any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through coercive means—this is a direct statement from the national security apparatus.
• A spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan responded in an interview with the Central News Agency that the United States is closely monitoring China's Military activities of China near Taiwan|military activities around Taiwan. China's increasing use of military coercion will only escalate tensions and undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Once again, China has demonstrated itself to be an irresponsible actor, showing no concern for the risks posed to regional security and prosperity. There is no justification for China to carry out threatening and military coercive actions around Taiwan. The United States will continue to support Taiwan in the face of military, economic, informational, and diplomatic pressure from China.
• On 26 March, U.S. China military expert and Department of Defense advisor Oriana Skylar Mastro stated during a Senate hearing that the PLA may be ready to take Taiwan within the next three to four years, aiming to seize control within three to four weeks. She recommended that Taiwan increase its defense spending to around 3.4% of its GDP and develop the capability to delay a PLA amphibious landing for at least 30 days. Some Taiwanese netizens responded critically, saying, "The politicians would flee in three days," and "Ukraine waited for three years and saw no one show up."

• On 1 April, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that the Japanese government is highly concerned about the People's Liberation Army's recent military exercises and is actively collecting and analyzing intelligence. Japan has also conveyed its concerns to China. The peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait is extremely important to the international community, including Japan. Due to the frequent military activities around Taiwan by China in recent years, the Japanese government has increased vigilance and surveillance over the surrounding seas and airspace of Japan, making thorough preparations.

• A spokesperson for the European External Action Service issued a statement saying that China's large-scale military exercises around Taiwan are escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait. The peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait hold strategic significance for both regional and global security and prosperity. The European Union has a direct interest in maintaining the Status quo in the Taiwan Strait. The EU opposes any unilateral actions to change the status quo through force or coercion. The EU calls on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate tensions, emphasizing that these issues should be resolved through cross-strait dialogue.
• On 2 April, the European Parliament adopted a resolution as part of its assessment report on the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. The resolution contains multiple condemnations of China's coercive actions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. It also criticizes CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping for refusing to renounce the use of force against Taiwan. The resolution emphasizes that "achieving unification through coercive measures" violates International law.

• At a Federal Press Conference |German federal press conference, German Federal Foreign Office spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer responded that Germany is very concerned and is closely monitoring the situation. This pertains to a new large-scale military exercise conducted by the People's Liberation Army and the China Coast Guard around Taiwan. She stated that such exercises, especially those announced with little notice, increase tensions in the region and certainly affect the stability of the Taiwan Strait. Germany's objective is to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which holds strategic significance not only for Europe, but also beyond the region. This concerns international security and prosperity, which directly affects both Germany's and Europe's interests. Therefore, Germany has a direct interest in preserving the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Any changes in the Taiwan Strait must come through peaceful means and mutual agreement. Germany expects the People's Republic of China to act as a responsible international actor, rather than taking actions that further increase tensions and destabilize regional peace.
• The German Federal Foreign Office also issued a statement on the social media platform X, expressing concern over the rising tensions caused by China's military exercises around Taiwan. The statement emphasized that the stability of the Taiwan Strait is crucial for both regional and global security, and it also affects Europe's prosperity. It reiterated that the Status quo can only be changed through peaceful means and mutual agreement, not by force or coercion.

• A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom issued a statement expressing concern over China's military exercises near Taiwan. The statement described the exercises as part of a broader pattern of activity that is escalating tensions and poses a risk of dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait.
• The UK reaffirmed its clear interest in the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing that it is essential for global prosperity. The UK also reiterated its support for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. The statement stressed that the Taiwan issue should be resolved peacefully through constructive dialogue between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, free from threats, force, or coercion.

• Global Affairs Canada issued a statement on the social media platforms X and Facebook, expressing deep concern over China's recent military exercises near Taiwan. The statement noted that these provocative actions have escalated tensions, undermined regional stability, and impacted global security and prosperity.Canada called on China to resolve cross-strait differences through peaceful means, emphasizing the importance of dialogue over confrontation.

• Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson responded in writing to a parliamentary inquiry, stating that China's actions toward Taiwan are concerning and that military threats are unacceptable. He emphasized that differences across the Taiwan Strait must be resolved peacefully and with respect for the will of the people of Taiwan.Jonson further stated that it is in Sweden's interest to help prevent states with military power from undermining the rules-based international order and violating international norms and regulations. He noted that Sweden is in dialogue with its NATO allies on how NATO can strengthen collective defense in the Euro-Atlantic area, which falls within NATO's area of responsibility.In addition, Sweden maintains strong bilateral cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific region and is working within the frameworks of the European Union and NATO to enhance defense policy cooperation with those regional partners.

• The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement expressing deep concern over China's military and coast guard exercises near Taiwan. Australia strongly opposes actions that increase the risk of accidents, miscalculation, and escalation. As previously stated, these military drills are disproportionate and destabilizing.Disputes should be resolved through dialogue, not through threats, the use of force, or coercion. Australia does not want to see any unilateral changes to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Peace and stability across the Strait are in the interest of all.Australian officials have raised their concerns directly with their Chinese counterparts.

• On 1 April, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. warned the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prepare for the possibility of a mainland Chinese attack on Taiwan. He stated that the Philippines would be "at the forefront of rescue operations" in such a scenario. General Brawner emphasized that if a conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, Manila would inevitably be drawn into the situation, and preparations must be made to evacuate the approximately 250,000 Filipino workers currently residing and working in Taiwan.