Taiwan says China deployed 100-plus vessels after Trump-Xi summit

China Deploys Over 100 Vessels Near Taiwan After Trump-Xi Summit

Taiwan’s National Security Council chief Joseph Wu said Saturday that China has deployed more than 100 navy, coast guard, and other vessels across regional waters in what marks one of Beijing’s largest maritime shows of force in recent memory, raising alarm over China’s intentions toward the self-governing island.economictimes

A Sweeping Maritime Presence

The deployment stretches from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea and western Pacific, Wu said in a post on X. A Taiwan security official told AFP on condition of anonymity that Chinese vessels had been detected before the May 14–15 Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, but the numbers rose above 100 in the days following the meeting.aawsat

“In this part of the world, China is the one & only PROBLEM wrecking the Status Quo & threatening regional peace & stability,” Wu wrote.straitstimes

The disclosure comes amid heightened uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to Taiwan’s defense. During the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Trump that the Taiwan issue is “the most significant concern in China-U.S. relations” and that mishandling it “could lead to clashes and conflicts.” Trump, speaking afterward, referred to “the Taiwan problem” and said he would “make a determination” on arms sales to Taipei.apnews

Trump’s Caution to Taiwan

In a Fox News interview following the summit, Trump appeared to warn Taiwan against formally declaring independence, telling reporters he was “not looking for Taiwan to go independent” and that both sides should “cool down.” The remarks unsettled Taipei, where officials stressed that the island is already a sovereign state. Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently said there had been no changes to U.S. policy on Taiwan.youtube

Adding to Taiwan’s concerns, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate hearing on Thursday that there was a pause on arms sales to Taiwan to ensure the United States had sufficient munitions for Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign against Iran launched in February. A source familiar with the matter pushed back, saying the sales “take years to process and are unrelated to Operation Epic Fury.”aawsat

Rising Tensions in the Strait

Taiwan has been awaiting approval of an arms package that Reuters reported could be worth up to $14 billion. The combination of China’s naval buildup and ambiguity from Washington has deepened anxiety in Taipei at a moment when Trump advisers privately worry that Xi may be positioning China to move on Taiwan within the next five years, according to Axios.reuters

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan’s military had already detected eight Chinese naval vessels near the island in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s Beijing visit. The surge to more than 100 vessels represents an escalation that regional security analysts will be watching closely in the weeks ahead.youtube