China Deploys Over 100 Ships Near Taiwan
On Saturday, the Secretary-General of Taiwan’s National Security Council, Joseph Wu, stated that China has sent more than 100 vessels into the waters surrounding Taiwan. This development came just a week after a meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Wu expressed concerns, indicating, “In this part of the world, China is the only problem that disrupts the status quo and threatens regional peace and stability.” He also shared images that seemed to depict a significant number of Chinese ships in the South China Sea, East China Sea, as well as near Taiwan and the Philippines.
Adding to the tensions, China has commenced its largest military exercises in eight months off Taiwan’s coast, which have been documented on video.
This notification from Wu arrived more than a week after Trump’s visit to Beijing and follows reports that Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Kao informed lawmakers that the US would temporarily pause arms shipments to Taiwan. Kao elaborated during a Senate hearing, stating, “We are currently on pause to ensure that we have the necessary ammunition for Epic Fury.”
Earlier this year, US Congress approved a substantial $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, but it remains unapproved by President Trump. According to reports, Taiwanese officials claim they were not informed about the potential suspension of these arms shipments.
The announcement regarding the arms pause emerged in light of discussions at the Trump-Xi summit, where Chinese officials underscored that the Taiwan issue is paramount in US-China diplomatic relations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning later commented that President Xi had articulated to Trump that managing the Taiwan issue is crucial for fostering stability in bilateral relations. Otherwise, there could be risks of conflict, jeopardizing the entire relationship.
FOX News Digital reached out for further comments from the White House, Taiwanese representatives, and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
