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Taiwan-China Military Tensions

PLA military exercises and incursions near Taiwan, US arms sales debates, and the risk of a cross-strait conflict under Trump

Bipartisan House members welcome Taiwan's parliamentary leader, pledge support

Illustration accompanying article: Bipartisan House members welcome Taiwan's parliamentary leader, pledge support
  • More than 30 bipartisan U.S. House members welcomed Han Kuo-yu, president of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, to a reception at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington on Wednesday and pledged firm support for the self-governed island.
  • Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, declared "I love Taiwan" and told Han directly that the United States supports him.
  • Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Ted Lieu, vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, were among the lawmakers who attended the gathering.
  • The bipartisan display came as the Trump administration reviews a $14 billion arms sales package to Taiwan that already received preliminary congressional approval.
 2026-06-25 · 4 MIN READ

Taiwan Test-Fires U.S.-Supplied Missile Launcher Toward China

Illustration accompanying article: Taiwan Test-Fires U.S.-Supplied Missile Launcher Toward China
  • Taiwan's military fired 36 test rockets from U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems into the Taiwan Strait on June 10, marking the first use of the mobile launchers from a potential Chinese invasion beachhead, according to the Wall Street Journal.
  • The two-day exercise showcased Taiwan's preparations to combat an amphibious invasion, with the army saying it fired the rockets from near a river mouth on the island's western coast that has been regarded as a landing point for invading forces.
  • A $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan remains on hold after President Trump called it a "very good negotiating chip" with China following his May meeting with Xi Jinping, according to the Wall Street Journal.
  • Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine colonel, said the drill sends a message that an invading force "will end up with far fewer ships than they started with."
 2026-06-10 · 3 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: Trump calls Taiwan arms sales a 'very good negotiating chip' with China