China’s Eastern Theater Command announced tonight that it will conduct a snap military exercise in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan, dubbed “Justice Mission 2025.” The drill is set to begin later this evening and run through Tuesday, December 30. Units from the People’s Liberation Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force will take part. The exercise appears to rehearse a blockade of Taiwan from the north, south, and east, simulating the early stages of a potential future invasion.

Given that a significant portion of U.S. naval and military assets are currently positioned in the Caribbean, along with recent discussion about the Trump administration shifting focus away from Asia and Europe toward the Western Hemisphere, some observers argue that this could be a relatively opportune moment for China to apply pressure on Taiwan—even if Beijing is not yet fully prepared for a broader conflict involving Japan, South Korea, and the United States.