'Invasion' barges, cable cutters and surprise naval drills: how China tests USA
5 months ago
- #Taiwan tensions
- #Indo-Pacific security
- #China-US relations
- China conducted live-fire drills near Australia, Taiwan, and Vietnam within five weeks.
- China tested new landing barges and unveiled deep-sea cable cutters, signaling maritime supremacy.
- The US under Trump initially focused on trade wars but is now responding to China's Indo-Pacific aggression.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured Japan and the Philippines of American support against China.
- Trump's unclear stance on Taiwan and inconsistent global strategy worry US allies.
- China is testing Trump's responses, escalating drills in the Taiwan Strait and targeting territorial disputes.
- US officials are divided on Taiwan policy, with factions competing for Trump's ear.
- Trump's openness to geopolitical deals, like with Putin, raises concerns about a potential 'grand bargain' with China over Taiwan.
- China leads in AI, robotics, EVs, and 6G, pressuring the US to stay competitive.
- US intelligence cuts and defunding of Radio Free Asia weaken its information and security posture.
- Australia faces security concerns as Chinese research vessels survey subsea cables near its coast.