Beijing increases military pressure on Taiwan ahead of US-China talks

Taiwan’s military “monitored the situation and tasked appropriate forces to respond,” the country’s ministry of national defense said.

Tensions between Beijing and Taipei have remained high ever since Lai Ching-te won Taiwan’s presidential election early this month with a political campaign focused on pushing back against China’s threats against the island.

This weekend, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is set to meet with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Thailand to discuss ongoing geopolitical insecurity, including attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Middle East.

“China has influence over Tehran; they have influence in Iran. And they have the ability to have conversations with Iranian leaders that — that we can’t,” John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman, told reporters.