STORY: China released additional video on Monday (December 29) showing preparations for drills from the People Liberation Army’s Rocket Force, with one unit officer saying it is “ready for combat” and “engage at any time”.

China staged live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday, deploying troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery for its "Justice Mission 2025" exercises, as the island scrambled soldiers and showcased U.S.-made hardware to rehearse repelling an attack.

The Eastern Theatre Command said it had concentrated forces to the north and southwest of the Taiwan Strait and carried out live firing and simulated strikes on land and maritime targets. The drills would continue on Tuesday (December 30) and include exercises to blockade the island's main ports and encircle it.

A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters dozens of Chinese military boats and aircraft were operating around the island, some of which were "deliberately closing in" on Taiwan's contiguous zone, defined as 24 nautical miles from its coast.

The exercises began 11 days after the U.S. announced $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest ever weapons package for the island, drawing a protest from China's defence ministry and warnings the military would "take forceful measures" in response.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: VIDEO SHOWING CHINA'S PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY (PLA) MILITARY DRILLS AROUND TAIWAN ON LAND, AT SEA AND IN AIR CONDUCTED BY THE EASTERN THEATER COMMAND / SOUNDBITES FROM SOLDIERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: AT SEA (AIRED DECEMBER 29, 2025) (CCTV - No use China)

1. CHINESE WAR VESSEL SAILING IN WATERS DURING DRILL

2. SOLDIER ABOARD VESSEL ISSUING ORDERS

3. VESSEL IN WATERS AS SEEN FROM FRONT

4. VESSEL IN WATERS AS SEEN FROM AERIAL POINT OF VIEW

5. COMBAT ALERT BELL RINGING OUT ABOARD VESSEL

6. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS ASSEMBLING AND SEATED ON CONTROL DECK FOR ORDERS

7. CHINESE FLAG ABOARD VESSEL

8. VARIOUS OF VESSELS FIRING DURING DRILL AS SEEN FROM ONBOARD AND AERIAL POINT OF VIEW

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SOLDIER FROM PLA'S EASTERN THEATER COMMAND NAVY, CHAN HONGSHENG, SAYING (PARTIALLY OVERLAID WITH SHOTS 10-12)

"As frontline officers and soldiers, we are confident and capable of addressing any acts of sabotage and provocation, any infringements or disruptions. We will safeguard regional security and stability, uphold national sovereignty and interests, and protect the territorial integrity of our motherland."

10. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS WEARING BALACLAVA-STYLE HEAD GOWNS IN CONTROL DECK AREA OF VESSEL

11. SOLDIER OPERATING CONTROL DECK AS SEEN FROM CLOSE UP OF FINGERS PRESSING BUTTONS

12. VESSEL FIRING OFF ROUNDS AS SEEN FROM ANOTHER VESSEL

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, CHINA (AIRED DECEMBER 29, 2025) (CCTV - No use China)

13. VARIOUS OF FIGHTER JETS TAKING OFF

14. (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES ASSEMBLING AS SEEN FROM GROUND AND FROM THE AIR

15. ROCKET READY FOR LAUNCH

16. VARIOUS OF ROCKET LAUNCH CALL CONDUCTED BY OFFICERS IN HUT IN PROGRESS

17. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS ASSEMBLING

18. VARIOUS OF ROCKETS BEING READIED FOR LAUNCH

19. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SOLDIER FROM PLA'S ROCKET FORCE UNIT, LI CHANGYI, SAYING (PARTIALLY OVERLAID WITH SHOTS 20-23)

"The officers and soldiers of the Rocket Force are always ready for combat with the ability to engage at any time. We will surely win the battle as long as our commander gives the order. We will resolutely thwart the secessionist forces of 'Taiwan independence' and attempts of external interference."

20. (NIGHT SHOT) AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE AS SEEN FROM THE AIR

21. (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS STANDING IN FORMATION

22. (NIGHT SHOT) SOLDIERS ASSEMBLING NEAR AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE

23. (NIGHT SHOT) ROCKET IN LAUNCH POSITION

24. VARIOUS OF ROCKET FORCE UNIT ASSEMBLING AROUND AND BOARDING AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES

25. VARIOUS OF AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES ON ROAD