The China-Taiwan relationship

Taiwan: Chinese Rockets Landed in Our Waters

Taiwan's Defense Ministry says several Chinese rockets have landed in the country's territorial waters, Reuters reports. The rockets are said to have landed in an area closer to Taiwan than any previous Chinese military exercise.

The incident appears to have occurred in connection with China's massive military exercise around Taiwan, which began yesterday. The Chinese military exercise is seen as a clear marker that China is more prepared than ever for war with Taiwan.

China is said to have practiced carrying out a blockade of the island, something that Taiwan's military said on Tuesday morning that it had failed to do.

Analysis: The message is clear - China is ready for war

China's large military exercise off Taiwan bears all the hallmarks of a wartime operation. This is what Australian public service channel ABC's Allyson Horn writes in an analysis.

She writes that the message from Beijing is unmistakable, namely that the Chinese military is more ready than ever to attack Taiwan.

“China has not said that it wants war in 2026. But it is showing the world that it is ready for one,” writes Horn.

Ekot’s Moa Kärnstrand also says that the purpose of the exercise is to send signals, especially to the United States. But just because it is practicing right now does not mean that an actual invasion is imminent, she points out.

The exercise does not worry Trump: “Xi has not said anything”

US President Donald Trump says he is not concerned about the large Chinese military exercise outside Taiwan, AFP reports. When the president was asked about the exercise on Monday, Trump replied that he had noted it but also that he has a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

– He has not said anything about this, Trump said.

The extensive Chinese exercise is taking place both in the air and at sea. It takes place just a few weeks after the US gave the go-ahead for a new arms deal with Taiwan.