China holds military drills around Taiwan after US arms deal

China kicked off military manoeuvres around Taiwan that it said included live-fire drills, in a dramatic show of force after the US announced one of its biggest arms packages ever for the self-run democracy. The manoeuvres come just two months into the one-year truce that China and the US reached in their trade dispute, and as US President Donald Trump prepares to visit the world’s No. 2 economy in April. The exercises are unlikely to disrupt that agreement, according to Dylan Loh, associate professor of NTU, who said a more provocative action from Beijing was unlikely. In 2022, China sent missiles directly over the main island of Taiwan in response to then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taipei. “They will want to hit the Goldilocks zone of inflicting pain and demonstrating resolve but not being seen as disproportionate,” Loh said. “A missile flying over the island would certainly fall under the escalation that could invite tit-for-tat.” 

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