China’s Taiwan Drills Disrupt 850 Flights, Over 100,000 Passengers Affected
Over 100,000 passengers disrupted by Beijing's war games.
The People's Liberation Army's "Justice Mission 2025" exercises have caused widespread disruptions to civilian aviation, with Taiwan's transport authorities rerouting or cancelling over 850 flights, directly affecting more than 100,000 international passengers and approximately 6,000 domestic travellers as restricted airspace zones force extensive diversions and delays to ensure safety amid live-fire activities.
Maritime operations face heightened risks, as designated drill zones encroach on key shipping lanes and approach Taiwan's major ports, prompting warnings for commercial vessels to avoid the areas; while no immediate blockades on Taiwanese ports were reported, the simulated port seizures and encirclement rehearsals raise concerns over potential interruptions to vital trade routes handling billions in annual commerce.
Taiwan's defence forces responded swiftly by activating rapid response exercises, establishing monitoring centres, deploying coast guard vessels to counter Chinese incursions, and placing troops on elevated alert status, while publicly showcasing US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems capable of reaching coastal targets in mainland China to underscore deterrence capabilities.
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The drills have intensified regional instability, with Taiwan's government condemning the actions as irrational provocations that undermine peace, prompting calls for restraint from neighbouring countries and heightening fears among Indo-Pacific nations dependent on the Taiwan Strait for over $5 trillion in yearly trade flows.
Analysts highlight broader implications, noting the exercises' focus on denying external intervention and blockading the island increasingly normalises coercive pressure, potentially straining Taiwan's trade-dependent economy, accelerating allied defence investments, and blurring lines between training and real-world contingency preparations in an already tense geopolitical environment.
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