China revealed that its H-6K strategic bombers recently conducted combat drills near Taiwan, just days before the scheduled Trump–Xi meeting in South Korea. State media said the exercises tested the military’s ability to carry out air blockades and precision strikes, describing them as part of “combat-oriented training” by the Eastern Theatre Command.
The timing of the announcement immediately ahead of high-stakes trade talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has drawn attention as a show of military resolve amid geopolitical tensions.
Why It Matters:
The drills underscore China’s growing military pressure on Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory, and its intent to project strength as it enters negotiations with Washington.
The H-6K bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, symbolize Beijing’s strategic reach and deterrence messaging not just to Taipei, but also to Washington.
Analysts view the move as a dual signal to remind Trump of China’s core sovereignty claims ahead of the summit, and to test Taiwan’s readiness under its new President Lai Ching-te, who has called for peace “through strength.”
Taiwan’s defence ministry dismissed China’s claims as a “public-opinion operation aimed at intimidation,” urging citizens to remain calm and united in defending “freedom and democracy.”
Taiwan’s daily bulletin on Monday reported only four Chinese aircraft operating near its airspace in the past 24 hours, suggesting the drills were more about messaging than immediate escalation.
In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Taiwan should not be alarmed by the Trump–Xi talks, reiterating continued U.S. support for the island under the Taiwan Relations Act.
Meanwhile, Chinese state television aired footage of bombs being dropped and pilots stating that “the coast of Taiwan can be clearly made out,” in what experts described as a psychological operation to reinforce domestic nationalism and external deterrence.
What’s Next:
Trump and Xi are expected to meet later this week to discuss the U.S.–China trade dispute and regional security.
The latest drills could complicate diplomatic optics, especially as Beijing continues to insist on “peaceful reunification” while ramping up military activity around Taiwan.
Taipei, for its part, maintains that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future, signaling no shift in its position despite renewed pressure from Beijing.
With information from Reuters.
