“Starting from Dec 29, the PLA Eastern Theater Command is dispatching its Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force troops to conduct joint military drills code-named ‘Justice Mission 2025’,” said a statement from Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the force, using an acronym for China’s military.

A separate statement with a map showed five large zones surrounding the island where “live firing activities will be organised” from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Tuesday (0000 to 1000 GMT Tuesday).

“For the sake of safety, any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter the afore-mentioned waters and airspace,” the statement said.

The large-scale show of force comes after weeks of tensions between China and Japan, started by comments suggesting Tokyo’s potential support for Taiwan in the event of a future armed conflict.

It also follows the latest round of arms sales to Taipei from the United States, sparking a furious response from Beijing, which last week slapped sanctions on 20 US defence firms.

The drills this week are “a stern warning against ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity”, Shi said in the statement.