On Thursday, China’s military initiated two days of live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait. This action came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a warning against any disruptions to trade in this crucial global waterway.
The maritime safety agency of China announced consecutive drill areas near Dongshan Island, located in Fujian province. These exercises followed Rubio’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila.
Rubio’s visit to the Philippines was part of a regional summit. During this trip, he informed reporters that discussions with Wang included the topic of Taiwan. The island operates as a self-governed democracy but is claimed by China, a claim that Taipei disputes.
Rubio noted that China’s military actions near Taiwan contradict the spirit of strategic stability. This stability was a result of the discussions between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a summit in Beijing held in May.
China asserts control over Taiwan and its surrounding waters. This includes deploying warships and law enforcement vessels to patrol these areas regularly.
On Thursday, Rubio reiterated via a post on X: “No nation has the right to restrict the free flow of commerce and travel through international waterways, including in the Taiwan Strait.”
Newsweek contacted both the Chinese and Taiwanese foreign ministries for comment on the situation. Updates to this story are expected as more information becomes available.