Quick roundup: China conducted "Justice Mission 2025," staging its largest encirclement of Taiwan in eight months and simulating a maritime blockade. A U.S. strike in the eastern Pacific killed two and raised the known boat-strike tally to 30 with at least 107 deaths since September. A federal judge ruled the CFPB’s funding cannot lapse, preservationists challenged DHS emergency demolitions, and a 2023 cease-fire freed 105 hostages despite recent false claims.
Quick Hits — Dec. 30, 2025: China’s 'Justice Mission,' U.S. Boat Strike, CFPB Ruling and More
Today’s quick roundup highlights events readers should know as the year ends.
China’s 'Justice Mission 2025' Encircles Taiwan
China launched large-scale military drills on Tuesday under the banner "Justice Mission 2025," firing rockets, deploying massed assault ships and flying bombers around Taiwan. The exercises — the Chinese military’s largest encirclement of the island in eight months — simulated a maritime blockade and appeared intended as a warning to the United States over support for the Beijing-claimed territory.
U.S. Strike In Eastern Pacific Kills Two
U.S. Southern Command said Monday that American forces struck a vessel in the eastern Pacific accused of smuggling drugs, killing two people. The announcement raised the tally of known such boat strikes to 30 and the confirmed death toll to at least 107 since early September, figures previously cited by the Trump administration.
Pipe-Bomb Suspect Seeks Conditional Release
A Virginia man accused of planting pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021, has filed for conditional release. His attorney cited an autism diagnosis in court filings as part of the request for alternative supervision.
Artists Pull Out Of Kennedy Center Shows
An acclaimed jazz ensemble canceled two New Year’s Eve concerts at the Kennedy Center, joining other performers who have withdrawn since the center’s board — appointed by President Donald Trump — voted to add the president’s name to the institution. The cancellations reflect growing cultural and reputational tensions surrounding the decision.
Taiwanese Coast Guard Administration (CGA) vessel Su'ao (CG612) sails at the Keelung Harbour in Keelung on December 30, 2025, amid Chinese military drills around Taiwan. China launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter aircraft and navy vessels around Taiwan on December 30 for a second day of live-fire drills aimed at simulating a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports and assaults on maritime targets. (Photo by CHENG Yu-chen / AFP via Getty Images)(Cheng Yu-chen / AFP via Getty Images)
Federal Judge Rules CFPB Funding Must Continue
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled Tuesday that funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be allowed to lapse, allowing the agency to continue receiving funds from the Federal Reserve. The judge made the decision despite the Fed operating at a loss since 2022, dealing a legal setback to the Trump administration’s claim that the agency’s funding stream was unlawful.
Preservationists Challenge DHS 'Emergency' Designations
Preservation advocates have disputed the Department of Homeland Security’s use of "emergency" claims to justify demolishing historic buildings in Washington, D.C. Critics say the administration is using expedited procedures to clear the way for projects that would otherwise face greater review, part of a broader push to reshape the city.
Fact Check: Hostage Releases During 2023 Cease-Fire
Contrary to a recent presidential claim that no hostages were released from Gaza during the Biden administration, 105 hostages were freed during the 2023 cease-fire. That release has been documented by multiple independent sources and remains the accurate record.
I’ll be away for the next couple of days and will resume the usual publishing schedule on Friday, Jan. 2. Happy New Year.
Source: MS NOW
