Communist China's military provocations have escalated dramatically as Beijing races toward its 2027 military modernization deadline.

In April 2025, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted its largest military drill of the year, code-named "Strait Thunder 2025A," involving 76 aircraft, 15 naval ships, and China's aircraft carrier Shandong maneuvering within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan, the closest approach ever recorded.

For the first time, Beijing practiced actual blockade operations and simulated precision strikes against Taiwan's critical energy infrastructure.

Since 2022, China has systematically increased military incursions around Taiwan, establishing what analysts call a "new normal" of constant military pressure designed to normalize threat levels while avoiding triggering immediate American intervention.