Chinese military releases map of Taiwan perimeter exercises

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Monday morning released a notice on and a sketch map of the areas of joint military drills around the Taiwan Island.

The release came after a spokesperson for the theater command announced that multiple forces of PLA have started drills code-named "Justice Mission 2025" around Taiwan.

From 08:00 to 18:00 Dec. 30, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command will conduct major military drills in the following waters and airspace, during which live firing activities will be organized, specifically covering five areas with the following coordinates:

The area connected by 26°32′00″N, 121°40′00″E, 26°32′00″N, 122°36′00″E, 25°43′00″N, 122°36′00″E, and 25°43′00″N, 121°40′00″E;

The area connected by 24°59′00″N, 120°04′00″E, 25°39′00″N, 121°13′00″E, 26°17′00″N, 121°13′00″E, and 25°37′00″N, 120°04′00″E;

The area connected by 23°27′00″N, 118°14′00″E, 23°27′00″N, 119°13′00″E, 22°13′00″N, 119°44′00″E, and 22°13′00″N, 118°45′00″E;

The area connected by 21°49′00″N, 119°16′00″E, 21°49′00″N, 121°00′00″E, 21°05′00″N, 121°00′00″E, and 21°05′00″N, 119°16′00″E;

The area connected by 21°58′00″N, 121°40′00″E, 21°58′00″N, 122°28′00″E, 23°23′00″N, 122°28′00″E, and 23°23′00″N, 121°40′00″E.

For the sake of safety, any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter into the aforementioned waters and airspace.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command also published a corresponding thematic poster named "Shield of Justice: Shattering Illusion" on social media on Monday.

Chinese military releases map of Taiwan perimeter exercises

Chinese military releases map of Taiwan perimeter exercises

Chinese military releases map of Taiwan perimeter exercises

Chinese military releases map of Taiwan perimeter exercises

Chinese military releases map of Taiwan perimeter exercises

Chinese military releases map of Taiwan perimeter exercises

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting