China sends Shandong Carrier Strike Group to within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan's coast in largest drill of 2025.

On April 2, 2025, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) conducted a significant multi-service military exercise east of Taiwan, designated Strait Thunder 2025A. At the center of the operation was the aircraft carrier Shandong and its strike group, supported by the Chinese Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Ground Force, and Coast Guard. The primary training objectives included coordination between ships and carrier-based aircraft, gaining regional air superiority, and simulating strikes against land and maritime targets. The exercise also emphasized the PLAN’s capacity for integrated joint operations beyond the first island chain, involving blockades and simultaneous action across multiple domains.
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The Shandong strike group maneuvered as close as 24 nautical miles from Taiwan's coast, the nearest it has been to the island’s mainland. (Picture source: Chinese MoD)

According to Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command (ETC), the drills were intended to test integrated operations within and beyond the island chain, multi-dimensional blockade capabilities, and coordination among different military branches. Air and naval forces operated east of Taiwan, with J-15 carrier-borne fighter jets and Z-9 helicopters flying from Shandong. Air units from multiple brigades conducted sorties, including J-10C/S, J-11B/BG, J-16, JH-7A, and Su-30MKK fighters, as well as H-6K strategic bombers. Support assets included KJ-500 early warning aircraft and Y-20U aerial refueling tankers.

Naval elements included destroyers such as the Type 052D Zhanjiang, Type 052DL Huainan, and the Type 055 Xianyang, along with Type 054A frigates Huaibei, Iyang, Daqing, and Hengshui, as well as the Type 901 replenishment ship. Coast Guard vessels also played a role, with Chinese commentators suggesting they would serve as maritime inspectors in a real conflict scenario. Missile units such as the 613th Rocket Brigade of the 61st Missile Base contributed with Dongfeng-15B systems, while the 72nd Army Artillery Brigade deployed PCL-191 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) at specific coordinates in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces to simulate strikes on land targets, including one on a simulated island LNG terminal.

Throughout April 1 and 2, the PLA conducted a large number of aircraft sorties and naval movements. On April 1, 76 aircraft and 15 naval vessels were observed, with 37 aircraft crossing the so-called (according to Chinese media) median line of the Taiwan Strait. The following day, 59 aircraft and 23 navy ships were active, with 31 aircraft again crossing the median line. The Shandong strike group maneuvered as close as 24 nautical miles from Taiwan's coast—the nearest it has been to the island’s mainland. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) responded by deploying its own warships and aircraft to monitor the situation.

According to Chinese defense expert Zhang Qi, the PLA’s posture during these maneuvers effectively blocked three key lines: supply routes for Taiwan’s energy resources, external support pathways, and potential escape routes for independence supporters. Chinese state-linked analysts noted that targets of simulated strikes included command centers, special forces headquarters, air defense command posts, arsenals, and key infrastructure such as the Hengshan wartime command post, Kaohsiung’s Yongan LNG terminal, and air traffic control centers. A total of 16 MLRS salvos were fired over two days from PCL-191 systems at a range of 50 kilometers using 300 mm rockets. Reports stated that the PLA possesses operational-tactical rockets of up to 750 mm caliber with a 500 km range for future operations.

Unlike catapult-equipped carriers, the Shandong uses a ski-jump ramp with a 12-degree angle for Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) operations, optimized for the J-15’s performance envelope. (Picture source: Chinese MoD)

Taiwanese officials stated that China simulated attacks on critical energy infrastructure, most notably the Yongan LNG terminal, which handles over 11 million tons of gas imports annually. Wu Daren, an economist at Central Taiwan University, warned that during the summer months, Taiwan’s natural gas reserves last only seven days—and at best, 10 to 14 days in milder conditions. If China enforces a full blockade, Taiwan could face a severe fuel crisis in a matter of weeks. The upcoming decommissioning of the second reactor at the Ma'anshan nuclear plant in May would eliminate Taiwan’s nuclear energy production entirely, placing full reliance on thermal power plants. With coal use decreasing due to environmental policies, Taiwan is targeting a 50% share of natural gas in its energy mix, yet struggles with infrastructure development amid public protests.

Analysts Lin Yingyu and Su Ziyun linked the timing of the drills to the visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Japan. Lin suggested that the exercise was meant to test the Trump administration’s red lines ahead of a summit with Xi Jinping. Su emphasized that the drills aimed to normalize military pressure and were not directed at Taiwan alone, but were a response to broader U.S. policy directions. The Strait Thunder 2025A exercise follows a pattern of increasing PLA activity around Taiwan, previously seen in Joint Sword 2024A and Joint Sword 2024B. These recent maneuvers reflect what some analysts consider the first stage of a potential military campaign: establishing air and sea superiority, destroying command infrastructure, and isolating Taiwan. The next stage, as theorized by Chinese commentators, could involve amphibious landings or prolonged siege operations. The exercise’s late naming and initial ambiguity about its scope suggest an effort to maintain strategic unpredictability.

The aircraft carrier Shandong (hull number 17) is China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier and the second to enter service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), following the Liaoning. Construction of Shandong began in November 2013 at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, with the keel laid in March 2015 and the launch taking place on April 26, 2017. Officially commissioned on December 17, 2019, the carrier is classified as a Type 002 and is a heavily modified derivative of the Soviet-designed Kuznetsov-class. While its predecessor Liaoning served primarily as a training platform, Shandong was intended from the outset for operational deployment, incorporating design changes to improve aircraft operations and onboard logistics. After sea trials beginning in May 2018, it reached Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by late 2020—faster than Liaoning’s training timeline.

The Shandong is approximately 305 meters long with a beam of 75 meters and a full-load displacement between 60,000 and 70,000 tons, while being conventionally powered by steam turbines driving four shafts, giving it a top speed of 31 knots (57 km/h). (Picture source: Chinese MoD)

During the April 2025 Strait Thunder 2025A exercise, the Shandong aircraft carrier led a multi-ship carrier strike group from the Southern Theater Navy. The group included the Type 055 guided missile destroyer Xianyang, the Type 052D destroyer Zhanjiang, and the Type 054A frigate Hengshui, along with a Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship. Previous deployments, such as those in July and August 2024, saw the strike group include other major surface combatants like Yan’an (Type 055), Guilin (Type 052D), and Yuncheng (Type 054A), supported by Chaganhu (Type 901). The formation represents China's intent to project power in blue-water environments and conduct multi-domain operations, with the Shandong strike group regularly conducting patrols and exercises east of Taiwan and in the Philippine Sea.

The Shandong operates a typical air wing of up to 36 aircraft, including approximately 24 Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighters, four Z-18 helicopters for airborne early warning (AEW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and two Z-9 helicopters for search and rescue. The carrier has also been observed operating electronic warfare variants of the J-15, such as the J-15D. During past deployments in 2023 and 2024, the carrier group conducted hundreds of sorties in short periods—for example, over 240 fixed-wing takeoffs and 140 helicopter operations during a nine-day exercise in July 2024. During Strait Thunder 2025A, the J-15s played a key role in simulating air superiority missions and strike operations on ground and sea targets, with the PLA highlighting their role in integrated multi-domain blockade simulations east of Taiwan.

The Shandong is approximately 305 meters long with a beam of 75 meters and a full-load displacement between 60,000 and 70,000 tons. It is conventionally powered by steam turbines driving four shafts, giving it a top speed of 31 knots (57 km/h). Unlike catapult-equipped carriers, Shandong uses a ski-jump ramp with a 12-degree angle for Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) operations, optimized for the J-15’s performance envelope. The ship is equipped with three Type 1130 close-in weapon systems (CIWS) and three HQ-10 short-range missile systems for point defense. Its radar suite includes the Type 346A AESA radar and Type 382 radar. Compared to Liaoning, the Shandong features a more compact island superstructure, expanded hangar and deck space, and optimized aircraft launch systems to improve sortie generation rates.