As the Trump administration ramps up its “America first” policies abroad, the US – the self-appointed world’s policeman for seven decades – has embarked on an unprecedented retreat from global commitments and treaties.
More critically, Trump’s signature transactional diplomacy has ignited imaginations in China, especially among nationalists who see the moment as ripe for Beijing to pursue reunification with Taiwan.
This backdrop provides context for the China-Japan tensions, preceded and followed by high-level US-China exchanges.
Speculation about Beijing’s intentions towards Taiwan has surged since President Xi Jinping assumed power in late 2012. Xi has intensified Chinese drills in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Things escalated after William Lai Ching-te – known for his pro-independence proclivities – took over as Taiwan’s leader in 2024, prompting more frequent and expansive mainland exercises.
