China has announced military drills around Taiwan to warn "separatist forces." The drills will simulate the seizure and blockade of key areas on the island. The army, navy, air force, and rocket force will all take part in live-fire exercises on Tuesday. The operation is called "Justice Mission 2025." These drills come just days after the US announced a huge weapons sale to Taiwan worth $11 billion. Beijing criticized this move strongly and imposed sanctions on US defense firms. Taiwan's government has condemned the Chinese drills as a challenge to international norms. On Monday, Taiwan detected Chinese aircraft and ships nearby and put its forces and missile systems on high alert. The defense ministry said it was ready to "defend Taiwan and protect our people." China's Eastern Theater Command described the exercise on Weibo as a "shield of justice" to crush anyone "plotting independence." Although China says it wants peaceful reunification, it also has a law that allows it to use force to stop Taiwan's secession. Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, believes Taiwan is already a sovereign nation and rejects the need to declare independence. He said Taiwan must "keep raising the difficulty so [China] can never meet the standard" for an invasion. Lai also said Taiwan wants to "maintain the status quo" without provoking China but stressed that peace depends on "real strength." Most people in Taiwan want to keep the status quo—no unification or formal independence. Since 2022, Beijing has increased military drills in the Taiwan Strait, often reacting to events like US visits or Taiwan's leadership changes. Alongside the drills, China's military released cartoons mocking President Lai. These are the first drills led by Yang Zhibin, who became chief of the Eastern Theater Command in October. Taiwan conducts its own defense exercises to prepare people and show strength. This year's Han Kuang exercise was the largest yet. Lai has also promised to boost defense spending and build new systems like a dome-shaped air defense. China says these drills also aim to deter forces "outside the island chain." Tensions have at least partly spread to neighboring Japan, where relations with China have worsened after Japan's leader suggested its self-defense forces might act if China attacks Taiwan. China has protested strongly and warned its citizens against traveling to Japan.