Dec 29, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Trump says "nothing worries" him about China's military drills around Taiwan

Rebecca Falconer

A Chinese rocket is fired into the air, as 2 smoke streams can be seen in the blue sky to the right and another to the left, as China's military conducts drills on Pingtan island, in eastern China's Fujian province, the closest point to Taiwan on Tuesday. — Chinese army soldiers fire a rocket into the air as they conduct military drills on Pingtan Island, in eastern China's Fujian province, the closest point to Taiwan, on Dec. 30. Photo: Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images

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 patrols Pingtan island, in eastern China's Fujian province, the closest point to Taiwan, during drills. — 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

Chinese soldiers fire a rocket into the air above rocky land as they conduct military drills on Pingtan island, in eastern China's Fujian province, the closest point to Taiwan, with trails of smoke left in the blue sky. — 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

Gray Chinese military ships patrol the blue sea beneath a blue sky near the silhouette of Pingtan island, in eastern China's Fujian province, the closest point to Taiwan. — 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

Flight information display boards show canceled flights in red at Taipei Songshan Airport. — 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

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Trump says "nothing worries" him about China's military drills around Taiwan

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