China-Taiwan relations

New Chinese ships are believed to be able to bypass Taiwan's defenses

Recently, images of a new type of ship have begun to spread on Chinese social media. The Guardian writes that the images show how a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could be carried out.

The ships resemble a barge and have long landing stages and, according to experts The Guardian spoke to, could bypass Taiwanese defense systems.

China considers Taiwan to be its own and since Xi Jinping took office, the country has increased military pressure on Taiwan, including by carrying out large-scale military operations in the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan's defense budget increases after pressure from Trump

It is not only in Europe and within NATO that defense budgets are being increased. On Thursday, Taiwan's President William Lai Ching-te said that the country will spend more than 3 percent of GDP on its defense in 2025. This is reported by the AP.

The increased budget is seen as necessary because China, which considers Taiwan to be its own, has increased its military pressure on the island.

As with NATO, the increased defense budget is being fueled by US President Donald Trump. The US is Taiwan's most important ally and Trump wants the country's military budget to equal ten percent of GDP.