China Deploys 100 Naval Warships In Taiwan’s Regional Waters

Taiwan is on high alert after China deployed over 100 naval ships, coast guard cutters and other specialised vessels like research ships and survey vessels in regional waters spanning from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea and the Western Pacific.

The development has raised eyebrows as it came after U.S. President Trump met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing this month.

Trump’s suggestion that U.S Arms Sale To Taiwan could be used as a bargaining card with China has raised tensions in Taiwan, which Beijing claims to be a part of its territory and has even threatened to seize it by force.

Taiwan, meanwhile, depends on US support to deter any potential Chinese attack.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a recent news conference that Beijing’s “position of resolute opposition to US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region is consistent, clear and firm.”

Trump talked about “the Taiwan problem” when asked if he would speak to Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te about arms sales.

He said, “I’ll speak to him. I speak to everybody… We’ll work on that, the Taiwan problem.”

President Lai responded that he would be “happy” to talk to Trump.

However, such a meeting between the President of the U.S and Taiwan would break over 4 decades of diplomatic protocol and could anger China, which has time and again warned Washington to stop interfering in the China-Taiwan issue.

In the last few years, China has increased its military pressure on Taiwan by deploying fighter jets, warships and other assets around the island and also organising large-scale drills in regional waters.

Thousands of people marched in Taipei, waving U.S and Taiwan flags, demanding the government increase defence spending.

President Lai Ching-te’s government had proposed additional spending of $40 billion on critical weapons, including U.S arms and drones, but the plan could not go forward due to the opposition-controlled Parliament, which passed only $25 billion.