US President-elect Donald Trump has dismissed China's military drills around Taiwan as routine, expressing no concern. This comes amid record-high US arms sales to Taiwan and the Pentagon reiterating its 2027 timeline.
Trump downplays concerns over China's military drills
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has launched military exercises around Taiwan, drawing international attention. US President-elect Donald Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago in Florida, expressed no worry about the drills, describing them as 'routine' in the Taiwan Strait and noting they have been ongoing for 20-25 years.
Pressed on whether the manoeuvres signal impending conflict, Trump doubled down: “I certainly have seen it, but he hasn’t told me anything about it, and I don’t believe he’s going to be doing it.” He added, “No, nothing worries me. They’ve been doing that for 20-25 years.” The 'he' likely refers to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Meanwhile, US arms sales to Taiwan have hit a record high, including HIMARS rocket systems. The Pentagon continues to highlight the 2027 timeline as a potential flashpoint for conflict, despite Trump's optimistic stance.
The exercises occur in the Taiwan Strait, amid Beijing's claims over Taiwan. Trump's remarks underscore his view on US-China relations but also highlight strengthened US-Taiwan military ties. Keywords mentioning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Busan appear to be from related snippets and are unrelated to this event.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with US policy potentially shifting under Trump's leadership.
