On the first anniversary of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s inauguration, China executed a high-profile amphibious landing exercise across the Taiwan Strait, a move widely interpreted as a symbolic and strategic message from Beijing. State broadcaster CCTV reported that units from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 73rd Group Army conducted an intense beach assault simulation using advanced amphibious vehicles along the coast of Fujian province—directly opposite Taiwan.
The operation featured realistic tactical scenarios that underscored China’s growing amphibious warfare capabilities. This maneuver, carefully timed and heavily publicized, is the latest demonstration in Beijing’s mounting pressure campaign against Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province destined for reunification—by force if necessary.
The drill’s scheduling on the anniversary of President Lai’s inauguration is not viewed as coincidental. Lai, considered by Beijing to be a staunch advocate of Taiwan’s de facto independence, has consistently emphasized democratic values and rejected China’s claims of sovereignty over the island.
While China’s Ministry of National Defense did not release a formal statement linking the exercise to the date, analysts argue the symbolism is unmistakable.
“This was a message directed at both Taipei and Washington,” said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund. “Beijing is signaling that it has both the will and the means to escalate militarily if it perceives any movement toward formal independence.”
The amphibious landing involved the PLA’s elite 73rd Group Army, headquartered in Xiamen—a city just 2 kilometers from Taiwan’s Kinmen Islands. That close proximity lent an added layer of realism and urgency to the exercise.
According to CCTV, the units launched their simulated beach assault from approximately 1.5 kilometers offshore. The operation featured complex maneuvers, including navigating maritime obstacles, synchronized landings, and coordinated vehicle movements on land—designed to replicate conditions of a full-scale amphibious invasion.
A key component of the drill was the use of the PLA’s Type 05 series amphibious armored vehicles. Specifically, the ZBD-05 infantry fighting vehicles and ZTD-05 fire support variants were highlighted. These vehicles are at the core of China’s rapid-deployment marine assault strategy.
The ZBD-05 is equipped with a 30mm autocannon and a coaxial machine gun, while the ZTD-05 carries a 105mm low-recoil gun designed to provide direct fire support during landings. Weighing around 26.5 tons, these platforms can reach speeds of 30 km/h in water using high-powered jet propulsion, and travel up to 500 km on land with their 550-horsepower diesel engines.
Their participation signals a shift from symbolic exercises to rehearsals of real operational capabilities.
The staging of such an exercise on Taiwan’s doorstep has serious implications beyond the Taiwan Strait. It plays into a broader pattern of Chinese military assertiveness across the Indo-Pacific.
Over the past year, China has dramatically increased the frequency of its incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), often dispatching dozens of fighter jets, drones, and warships in what it claims are “routine” patrols. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has recorded over 1,000 air incursions in the past 12 months alone.
“The scale, location, and composition of this exercise tell us it was not merely symbolic,” said Oriana Skylar Mastro, a fellow at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. “This is part of a strategic pattern to normalize high-intensity PLA activity near Taiwan.”
She added that while such drills are not necessarily a precursor to imminent conflict, they erode the psychological threshold for military action and test Taiwan’s and the U.S.’s response capabilities.
President Lai’s administration did not issue an immediate public reaction to the drills, but Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed it had closely monitored the situation. According to a brief statement, Taiwan’s armed forces maintained a “high degree of readiness” and tracked PLA movements using land-based radar and maritime reconnaissance assets.
In recent months, Taipei has prioritized strengthening its asymmetric defense strategy—investing in mobile missile systems, fast-attack craft, and drone capabilities. It has also emphasized civil defense measures, including large-scale drills and public education campaigns about how to respond in the event of a Chinese attack.
“Our posture is defensive, but resolute,” a senior official in Taiwan’s Presidential Office told local media. “The people of Taiwan have chosen democracy. No amount of coercion—military or otherwise—will change that.”
The United States, Taiwan’s primary security partner, has not yet issued a formal response to the drill. However, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command confirmed that it is aware of the situation and remains in communication with allies and partners in the region.
In recent years, Washington has increased its military presence in the Western Pacific and stepped up arms sales to Taiwan, including deliveries of F-16V fighter jets, HIMARS rocket systems, and Harpoon coastal defense missiles.
Meanwhile, U.S. congressional voices on both sides of the aisle have expressed growing concern over China’s intentions.
“This is saber-rattling, pure and simple,” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “We need to ensure Taiwan has the capabilities to deter any aggression, and we must not waver in our support.”
Japan and Australia have also emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, with Tokyo noting that any conflict there would directly impact Japanese national security.
China’s strategic use of state media to broadcast the amphibious exercise serves a dual purpose: reinforcing domestic unity and projecting strength internationally. The drill was featured prominently on CCTV, and videos of ZTD-05s storming the beach were widely shared on social media platforms such as Weibo and Douyin.
State-owned newspapers characterized the drill as “routine training within China’s sovereign territory,” dismissing foreign concerns as interference in internal affairs.
But analysts say the timing and location of the exercise are deliberate psychological operations. “This is part information warfare, part readiness training,” said Drew Thompson, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. “The goal is to intimidate and influence decision-making in Taipei without firing a shot.”
Despite both sides claiming they seek peace, the military buildup around Taiwan has increased the risk of miscalculation. Near misses between Chinese and American aircraft, as well as maritime confrontations in the South China Sea, have highlighted the possibility of unintended escalation.
In response, U.S. and Chinese defense officials held rare in-person talks earlier this month, aimed at re-establishing military communication channels to avoid accidents. However, mutual distrust remains high.
“Dialogue is necessary but insufficient,” said Thompson. “As long as Beijing continues these provocative drills, the potential for a flashpoint remains.”
China’s amphibious landing drill on the Taiwan Strait was not just a show of military might—it was a carefully calculated geopolitical statement. By choosing the anniversary of President Lai’s inauguration, the PLA has drawn a direct line between Taiwan’s democratic evolution and Beijing’s uncompromising stance on reunification.
The drill raises serious questions about regional stability, deterrence strategies, and the future of U.S.-China relations.
