China's military held massive live-fire drills around Taiwan for a second day on Tuesday, but President Trump said he's not concerned about the action that Beijing launched after expressing anger at a proposed U.S. arms sale to Taipei.
The big picture: Trump told reporters Monday he has "a great relationship" with Chinese leader Xi Jinping "and he hasn't told me anything about" the drills. "Nothing worries me" about the drills, he added. "Nothing. They've been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area."
A Chinese military ship takes part in military drills around Pingtan Island on Dec. 30. Taiwanese airport authorities reported that 100,000 international air travelers would be impacted by the action, which Beijing code-named "Justice Mission 2025." Photo: Adek Berry/ AFP via Getty Images
Taiwan's Defense Ministry said on X it had detected 130 Chinese military aircraft and eight ships near the island in a 24-hour period. Photo: Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images
Chinese ships on patrol near Pingtan Island during the drills on Dec. 30. A Beijing official said the Chinese military is conducting the drills in response to "'Taiwan Independence' separatist forces and external interference." Photo: Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images
The scene at Taipei Songshan Airport on Dec. 30, as the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command said the drills that involved destroyers, frigates, fighters and bombers would "test capabilities of sea-air coordination and integrated blockade and control. Photo: Cheng Yu-chen/AFP via Getty Images
Go deeper: Taiwan's president offers peace with China — but says defenses must be strengthened
