...
By Simon Crerar
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump brushed off China’s latest round of large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, telling reporters "nothing worries me" and describing Beijing’s activity as longstanding — comments that landed as Taiwan put its forces on alert and Beijing framed the drills as a warning to “external” powers.
...
Why It Matters
China’s expanding military pressure campaign around Taiwan is one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints, with direct implications for U.S. security commitments in the Indo-Pacific, global trade routes and the semiconductor supply chain.
Read More on News
Trump’s public posture—downplaying the drills while emphasizing his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping—will be closely read in Taipei, Beijing and allied capitals as the exercises continue.
What To Know
China’s military on Monday launched joint drills around Taiwan involving air, navy and missile units, calling them a “stern warning” against “Taiwan independence” forces and what it described as “external interference.” Taiwan said it was placing its forces on alert and condemned Beijing as “the biggest destroyer of peace.”
Speaking to reporters during a press conference with Israeli President Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said he had not been informed in advance of the exercises but said he was not worried, arguing China has been “doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area.”
"I have a great relationship with President Xi," continued Trump. "And I don't believe he's gonna be doing it."
Asked if the exercises worried him, Trump said: "No. Nothing worries me."
The drills — described by China as “Justice Mission 2025” — were announced less than two weeks after the U.S. approved a major arms package for Taiwan, and amid Beijing’s anger over ongoing U.S. support for Taipei.
Taiwan’s government and military have repeatedly warned that China’s “gray zone” operations — frequent aircraft and vessel activity near the island — raise the risk of miscalculation even if Chinese forces do not cross into Taiwan’s territorial airspace or waters. The naval drill activity and aviation disruptions were significant enough to affect large numbers of travelers and flights.
Propaganda posters published by Chinese state media outlets appeared to link the latest maneuvers to recent U.S. arms sales, with one image featuring a container ship carrying American-made HIMARS rocket launchers to the island.
What People Are Saying
Taiwan presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo said China’s actions “grossly undermine the status quo” and are a “blatant challenge to international law and order.”
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described the drills as “punitive and deterrent action against separatist forces who seek 'Taiwan independence' through military buildup, and a necessary move to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
What Happens Next
Drills are expected to continue, with Taiwan tracking Chinese aircraft, drones, naval and coast guard vessels operating around the strait.
In the near term, attention will focus on the scale and duration of the exercises, any unusually close encounters at sea or in the air, and whether Washington issues additional statements emphasizing U.S. policy and obligations under longstanding U.S. law governing support for Taiwan’s defense.
This month, the Center for Preventive Action at the Council on Foreign Relations said the likelihood of war between China and Taiwan in 2026 was moderate, but its impact would be high.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines