🇺🇸🇵🇷🪖The United States continues to significantly reinforce its airpower posture in the Caribbean, with a large forward deployment now concentrated in Puerto Rico, reflecting expanded ISR, strike, and special operations capabilities.

➡️At least 10 MQ-9A Reaper drones have been deployed, enhancing long-endurance surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capacity across the Caribbean basin and northern South America. Alongside them, 11 CV-22B Ospreys provide rapid long-range insertion, extraction, and resupply for special operations forces, while 10 MC-130J Commando II aircraft support covert infiltration, aerial refueling, psychological operations, and precision mobility. In addition, roughly 36 fighter aircraft are now forward positioned to ensure air superiority, rapid strike options, and deterrence.

📌Key deployment locations include:

• Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN), Aguadilla – Operating as a special operations and drone hub, hosting MQ-9A Reapers and SOF aviation assets.

• Roosevelt Roads (RVR), Ceiba – Focused on strike assets and Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts under IWOARG, enabling rapid dispersal and sustainment.

• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), San Juan – Serving as a command, control, ISR, and electronic warfare (C2/ISR/EW) coordination center.

• Mercedita Airport (PSE), Ponce – Supporting U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps logistics, port access, and sustainment operations.

➡️The scale and distribution of these deployments suggest a sustained U.S. effort to improve regional responsiveness, monitor strategic corridors, and project power across the Caribbean and nearby theaters, rather than a short-term or symbolic presence.

🇨🇳🇨🇳⚡️🇹🇼The PLA Eastern Theater Command has launched joint military drills around Taiwan, code-named “Justice Mission 2025.”

➡️According to Xinhua, multiple branches of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army began the exercises on Monday, as confirmed by theater command spokesperson Shi Yi.

🇨🇳🇨🇳The PLA Eastern Theater Command has announced large-scale joint military drills around Taiwan, scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on December 30. The exercises, code-named “Justice Mission 2025,” involve multiple branches of the Chinese military and include live-fire activities, according to Xinhua.

➡️The drills will take place across five designated maritime and airspace zones surrounding Taiwan. These areas are located north of Taiwan, northwest near the Taiwan Strait, west and southwest near Fujian-facing waters, south of the island, and east of Taiwan in the western Pacific, forming a broad operational ring around the island.

📌Specifically, the northern drill zone lies between waters northeast of Taiwan and the East China Sea. The northwestern area covers parts of the Taiwan Strait opposite northern Taiwan. Another zone is positioned off the western and southwestern approaches, near coastal routes facing southeastern China. A southern area extends into waters below Taiwan, while the eastern zone stretches into airspace and waters east of the island, facing the Pacific.

🇨🇳The PLA stated that these exercises will involve coordinated operations by naval, air, and other forces, with live ammunition being used. Chinese authorities warned that all civilian vessels and aircraft should avoid entering the designated waters and airspace during the drill period for safety reasons.

🔗https://english.news.cn/20251229/b8180fef31a44b7f9985126eec1f937a/c.html

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼 — Chinese state media is openly framing the PLA’s “Justice Mission 2025” drills as a direct response to the record $11.1B U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.

🇹🇼❌🇨🇳⚡️Taiwan’s Presidential Office issued a firm statement urging China not to misjudge the current situation or act as a destabilizing force that undermines regional peace and stability. Taipei called on Beijing to remain rational, exercise self-restraint, and immediately halt what it described as irresponsible military provocations around the island.

🇹🇼‼️According to Taiwanese authorities, the government and armed forces have maintained a comprehensive, real-time assessment of developments in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas. Military and security units remain on heightened readiness, with air, naval, and surveillance assets actively monitoring Chinese movements to ensure national security and public safety.

🇹🇼🪖‼️Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced the establishment of an emergency response center as Chinese military activity continues to intensify around the island. The military confirmed it will immediately conduct combat readiness exercises and maintain a high level of alert across all branches.

🇹🇼🪖⚡️Taiwan Ministry of National Defense on 𝕏

“We strongly condemn the PRC’s reckless provocations and oppose PLA actions that threaten regional stability. Rapid response exercises are underway, with forces on high alert to defend the Republic of China and protect our people.”

🔗國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan)

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼⚡️Chinese state media has circulated a second exercise poster noscriptd “Arrow of Justice.”

🇨🇳🇨🇳The poster includes the phrases “Arrow of Justice,” “Draw the Sword” (likely referencing earlier Joint Sword drills), and “Counter External Interference.” It also references Strait Thunder-2025A and depicts several green worm-like figures being destroyed.

➡️During April’s exercises, the PLA released imagery portraying Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te as a green worm.

🔗Taiwan Security Monitor (@TaiwanMonitor)

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼 — Chinese state media has released a new poster for the Justice Mission 2025 exercise noscriptd “Plainly Visible,” featuring satellite imagery of Taiwanese military infrastructure alongside the caption, “How could you ever attempt ‘independence’?”

🔗Taiwan Security Monitor (@TaiwanMonitor)

▶️#BREAKING

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼⚡️Taiwan’s Coast Guard reports that 4x Chinese Coast Guard vessels approached waters off Taiwan’s northern and eastern coasts.

➡️A command center has been established, large patrol ships have been deployed, and authorities say the drills severely affect maritime safety and Taiwan’s fishing rights.

Jaime Ocon 歐海美 (@JaimeOcon1)

🇮🇩 Reports circulating on Indonesian social media claim that Indonesia may acquire the Buk-M2K surface-to-air missile system. So far, the government has issued no official statement on the matter.

➡️Regardless of online speculation, attention has turned to the Buk-M2K air defense system developed by Belarus and Indonesia’s minimum requirements for air defense capabilities.

➡️At the Indo Defence 2024 Expo & Forum, held in Jakarta from June 11 to 14, 2025, Belarusian company E-System Solutions showcased a full-scale model of the Buk-M2K system.

➡️The medium-range air defense system is being offered to Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia.