Trump Sees No Sign of Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan Soon
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, dismissed the likelihood of imminent Chinese military action against Taiwan, stressing that there are currently no indications of such a decision from Beijing.
In response to questions about tensions surrounding Taiwan, Trump said he has a good relationship with Xi Jinping, the President of China, who has made no mention of military action. According to Trump, China has conducted similar exercises in the area for years, and this is nothing new to raise concern.
In contrast, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described recent Chinese military drills off Taiwan’s coast as a necessary measure to protect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that these maneuvers are a direct response to what China calls foreign interference and Taiwan’s militarization.
The spokesperson also criticized Taipei’s relations with the United States as provocative and warned that this trend could push Taiwan’s situation into a more dangerous phase.
On Monday, the Chinese military announced the deployment of ground, naval, air, and artillery units as part of the “Justice Mission 2025” exercises around Taiwan. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese military stated that the drills include live-fire exercises and that parts of the waters and airspace around the island will be restricted for several hours.
According to the Chinese military, the exercises involve fighter jets, bombers, drones, and long-range missiles, with coordinated attacks on moving ground targets also planned. This marks the sixth round of Chinese military drills around Taiwan since 2022.
These drills began 11 days after the United States announced an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan. Chinese military officials say the purpose of these exercises is to warn Taiwan’s separatist forces and to deter foreign military intervention.
