Trump downplays threat from Chinese military drills near Taiwan

PALM BEACH, Florida – US President Donald Trump downplayed China’s latest manoeuvres around the island of Taiwan, casting them as a continuation of longstanding military exercises.

China on Dec 29 kicked off moves that it said included live-fire drills
in a dramatic show of force after the US announced one of its biggest arms packages ever for Taiwan.

When asked about the Chinese actions around the island, Mr Trump instead touted his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and cast the latest activity as routine.

“I have a great relationship with President Xi, and he hasn’t told me anything about it,” Mr Trump told reporters in a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“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,” Mr Trump said without elaborating further.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must ultimately be brought under its control, by force if necessary – a position Taipei firmly rejects.

Since Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office in May 2024, Beijing has stepped up military pressure on the self-governing island of 23 million people.

“They’ve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area,” Mr Trump said.

Mr Trump has touted a great relationship with Mr Xi, with whom he reached a trade detente in October after a series of tit-for-tat tariffs shook global markets.

Both leaders have discussed an April visit by the US leader to China
, even as the world’s two biggest economies continue to spar over export and regulatory restrictions. BLOOMBERG