Chinese jets at Xi Jinping’s big military parade in September.Image: keystone
Beijing’s military has practiced an attack on Taiwan with bombers and simulated precision strikes. The timing of the maneuver is unlikely to be coincidental.
October 27, 2025, 07:38October 27, 2025, 07:38
China simulated an attack on the island with a military maneuver near Taiwan, Chinese state media reported late Sunday (local time). The move was announced just days before a planned meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in South Korea.
Accordingly, military units practiced air blockades and precision strikes. Several H-6K strategic bombers flew into the waters and airspace around the island of Taiwan to conduct “simulated combat exercises.” In a video distributed by state media, a pilot claims that the coast of Taiwan is “clearly visible.” There was initially no statement from the defense ministries of China and Taiwan.
Trump and Xi want to meet on the sidelines of a regional summit in South Korea to discuss their trade dispute. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday (local time) that Taiwan does not have to worry about the talks.
Appeases Taiwan: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.Image: keystone
USA is committed to defending Taiwan
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry, which reports daily on Chinese military activities, had recently reported no unusual incidents. The United States is committed to securing Taiwan’s defense capability but does not have formal diplomatic relations with the island.
The government in Beijing views democratically ruled Taiwan as a renegade province and is threatening to conquer it. Most recently, a high-ranking Chinese official called for “peaceful reunification”.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, however, emphasized in an interview that peace must be based on strength. “We cannot be under the illusion that an agreement on a piece of paper can create peace,” he said. China rejects talks with Lai and describes him as a “separatist”.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.Image: keystone
Trump travels first to Japan, then Taiwan
Trump left the first stop of his multi-day Asia trip, Malaysia, for Japan. The presidential plane Air Force One took off from Kuala Lumpur at around 10:10 a.m. (local time) on Monday morning and is scheduled to arrive in the Japanese capital Tokyo later in the day. Talks are planned in Japan with the new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
After concluding his visit to Japan, the US President is expected on Wednesday in South Korea, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is taking place, where he will have his first personal meeting with President Xi since Trump returned to the White House on Thursday.
Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to kick off his first visit to Asia since the start of his second term in office. There he took part in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit and attended the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. Numerous meetings with heads of state and government were also on the program.
Sources used:
- News agencies dpa and Reuters