In brief
President Trump addressed the escalating tensions surrounding Taiwan, stemming from China's military drills, during a press conference. He emphasized his positive rapport with Chinese President Xi Jinping and downplayed the seriousness of the exercises. The drills, which coincide with a significant U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, have raised concerns about regional stability, prompting strong reactions from both sides.
US President Donald Trump stated he is not worried about Beijing's military drills around Taiwan, choosing to instead highlight his rapport with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
I have a great relationship with President Xi, and he hasn't told me anything about [the drills]. I certainly have seen it, Trump told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
No, nothing worries me. They've been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area, he said.
The two-day war games kicked off on Monday—nearly two weeks after the US announced one of its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan. The sale had angered Beijing, which sees the self-governed island as a breakaway province.
China's military exercises on Tuesday will involve 10 hours of live-firing exercises in the sea and airspace of five locations surrounding the island, according to the Eastern Theater Command in charge of the Taiwan Strait. The drills are intended to test the military's "sea-air coordination" and to warn against "Taiwan independence separatist forces" and "external interference".
Taiwan's presidential office has criticized the drills, calling them a challenge to international norms. China's long-standing goal is to achieve reunification with Taiwan, and it has not dismissed the use of force.
While Trump downplayed the drills, his administration recently announced an $11bn (£8.2bn) weapons package to Taiwan, including advanced rocket launchers and various missiles. This package is significant given the U.S. has formal ties with Beijing rather than Taiwan, yet it remains a critical ally of the island.
China responded to the U.S. arms sale with sanctions on several U.S. defense firms, asserting that any attempts to "contain China by using Taiwan will absolutely not succeed.
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