China initiated two days of live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday. This follows a warning from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the potential disruption of trade in one of the world’s key waterways.
The country’s maritime safety agency outlined consecutive areas for these exercises near Dongshan Island in Fujian Province. This announcement came after Rubio’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila.
While in the Philippines for a regional summit, Rubio informed reporters on Wednesday about his discussions with Wang concerning Taiwan. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, a self-governing democracy; however, this claim is firmly rejected by Taipei.
Rubio criticized recent Chinese military activities around Taiwan, highlighting the island’s significant role as a trade partner and microchip supplier for the U.S. He noted these maneuvers defy the strategic stability agreed upon by President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a summit in Beijing in May.
China maintains its claim over Taiwan and its adjacent waters, regularly deploying warships and law enforcement vessels for patrols to assert its control.
On Thursday, Rubio stated on platform X, “No nation has the right to restrict the free flow of commerce and travel through international waterways, including in the Taiwan Strait.”
Newsweek sought comments from both Chinese and Taiwanese foreign ministries. The situation is ongoing and further updates are anticipated.
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