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China Ends Military Drills Around Taiwan, Taipei Labels Them as ‘Provocative’ to Int’l Order

An outdoor screen shows news coverage of China’s military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. Photo: Jade Gao/AFP.
An outdoor screen shows news coverage of China’s military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. Photo: Jade Gao/AFP.
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China Ends Military Drills Around Taiwan, Taipei Labels Them as ‘Provocative’ to Int’l Order

An outdoor screen shows news coverage of China’s military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. Photo: Jade Gao/AFP.
An outdoor screen shows news coverage of China’s military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. Photo: Jade Gao/AFP.

China has ended the large-scale military drills it kicked off on Thursday morning around Taiwan and which were accompanied by a tightening of Beijing's tone towards Taipei.
The Chinese army has “successfully completed” the “Joint Sword-2024A” drills directed against Taiwan, a presenter for CCTV-7, China's state-run military news channel, said in a broadcast late Friday.
Punishing Separatists
China said the drills would serve as “strong punishment for the separatist acts of 'Taiwan independence' forces,” according to AFP.
The drills were launched three days after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te took office. Beijing regards Lai as a “dangerous separatist.”
On Friday, Beijing's defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that Lai was pushing Taiwan “into a perilous situation of war and danger.”
China called the drills a test of its ability to seize the self-ruled island.
The exercises took place all around the main island, and for the first time also targeted the Taipei-controlled islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin which lie close to the Chinese coast, according to maps released by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).
On Friday evening, China's army published images of the drills' highlights, featuring missile-launching trucks ready to fire, fighter jets taking off and naval officers looking through binoculars at Taiwanese ships.
Blatant Provocation
China's two-day military drills around Taiwan were a “blatant provocation to the international order,” Taipei said in a statement Saturday after the war games encircling the self-ruled island ended.
In a statement, Lai's presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo reiterated that ensuring peace and stability across the region was “related to the common interests of the international community.”
“However, China's recent unilateral provocation not only undermines the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait but it is also a blatant provocation to the international order, triggering serious concern and condemnation from the international community,” she said.
Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, when nationalists fled to the island following their defeat by the Chinese Communist Party in a civil war on the mainland.
Beijing considers the democratic island part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control.
It has also amped up its rhetoric, with its foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin saying “Taiwan independence forces will be left with their heads broken and blood flowing after colliding against the great... trend of China achieving complete unification.”
Chinese Threats
On Monday, Taiwan's President said in his inauguration speech that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were “not subordinate to each other,” which China viewed as a declaration the two are separate countries.
Beijing's defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Friday that Lai was pushing Taiwan “into a perilous situation of war and danger.”
“Every time 'Taiwan independence' provokes us, we will push our countermeasures one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved,” he said.
Political analyst Wen-Ti Sung from The Atlantic Council's Global China Hub told AFP that “Beijing is trying to use this very high-profile show of force to not only show displeasure against Taiwan, but also... to deter and dissuade other countries and partners from contemplating further cooperation or engagement of Taiwan.”
“That furthers isolation of Taiwan, which allows Beijing to negotiate with Taiwan going forward from a position of strength,” he added.
Calls for Self-Restraint
The United States, Taiwan’s strongest ally and military backer, on Thursday “strongly” urged China to act with restraint. The United Nations called for all sides to avoid escalation.
The Pentagon announced on Friday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would meet his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun at the end of the month at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defense officials from around the world.
It will be the first meeting between the two defense leaders following a phone call in April.

 

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Europeans Seek Clarity About Trump’s Iran War Aims Before Agreeing to His Warship Demands

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives ahead of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the Council of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, 16 March 2026. (EPA)
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives ahead of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the Council of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, 16 March 2026. (EPA)
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Europeans Seek Clarity About Trump’s Iran War Aims Before Agreeing to His Warship Demands

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives ahead of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the Council of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, 16 March 2026. (EPA)
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives ahead of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the Council of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, 16 March 2026. (EPA)

European countries on Monday sought more details about US President Donald Trump's plans for the war on Iran and warned that NATO must not become involved it, as they weighed whether to agree to his call to send warships to help shore up security in the Gulf.

The cool response to Trump’s demand reflects wide caution about the US-Israeli war among allies kept in the dark before, and largely since, it was launched on Feb. 28.

Trump has asked partners, including France, China, Japan, South Korea and Britain, to help secure the Strait of Hormuz for global shipping. He said the United States was talking to “about seven” countries, but he wouldn’t say which ones and gave no indication of when such a coalition might be formed.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted Britain “will not be drawn into the wider war,” and said British troops should only be sent into action that is legal and has “a proper thought-through plan.” But his country is considering other forms of help in conjunction with allies.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump also warned that “if there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that “NATO is a defensive alliance, not an interventionist one. And that is precisely why NATO has no business being involved here.” He said he hopes that NATO allies “will treat one another with the necessary respect within the alliance.”

Merz agreed that “this Iranian regime must come to an end,” but he said that "based on all the experience we have gained in previous years and decades, bombing it into submission is, in all likelihood, not the right approach.”

EU debates Trump's demand

Many are keen to know when the war will end.

At a meeting in Brussels, where European Union foreign ministers gathered to discuss Trump's demand, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said it's important for the US and Israel to define “when they consider the military aims of their deployment to have been reached.”

“We need more clarity here,” Wadephul told reporters.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also said that US allies in Europe want to understand Trump’s “strategic goals. What will be the plan?”

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski invited the Trump administration to go through the proper channels.

“If there is a request via NATO, we will of course out of respect and sympathy for our American allies consider it very carefully,” he said. Sikorski made a reference to Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which allies can invoke if they believe their territory or security is under threat.

Acting in Europe's interests

Still, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that “it is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open."

Kallas had urged the 27 member countries to expand the EU's Operation Aspides naval mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea up into the Persian Gulf. But after chairing the meeting, she said there had been “no appetite” to boost its mandate.

But Kallas said the EU would closely monitor threats to maritime security also in the Red Sea, where Aspides operates with three warships. “The risk that the Houthis get involved is real. So we must remain vigilant,” she said.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants have so far remained on the sidelines of the war even as it has spread across the Middle East, raising questions about why, and perhaps when, the battle-hardened militants might join the fight.

It was not immediately clear whether some European countries might go it alone and form a “coalition of the willing” to provide military support on an ad hoc basis.

The war in Iran has driven up energy prices worldwide, with Brent crude up more than 40%. The conflict has also disrupted the wider global supply chain beyond oil, affecting things like pharmaceuticals from India, semiconductors from Asia and oil-derived products like fertilizers that come from the Middle East.

Cargo ships are stuck in the Gulf or making a much longer detour around the southern tip of Africa. Planes carrying air cargo out of the Middle East are grounded. And the longer the war drags on, the more likely that there will be shortages and price increases on a wide range of goods.

France has said it is working with countries — French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned partners in Europe, India and Asia — on a possible mission to escort ships through the strait but has stressed it must be when “the circumstances permit,” when fighting has subsided.

French senior officials, speaking anonymously on ongoing talks, said the Netherlands, Italy and Greece had shown interest and that Spain might be involved in some way.

Starmer said Britain is discussing with the US and allies in Europe and the Gulf the possibility of using its mine-hunting drones already in the region.

World

Trump on Iran: We Don’t Know Their Leaders

US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 16 March 2026. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 16 March 2026. (EPA)
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Trump on Iran: We Don’t Know Their Leaders

US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 16 March 2026. (EPA)
US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 16 March 2026. (EPA)

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he believes Iran wants to make a deal to end the US-Israeli conflict with Tehran but that it is unclear who is actually leading Iran.

"We don't know who their leader is. We ‌have people ‌wanting to negotiate. We have ‌no ⁠idea who they ⁠are," Trump told reporters during a White House event.

After Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the initial strikes of the war, Tehran announced his ⁠son, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been ‌named as ‌his successor.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said ‌last week the new leader ‌was believed to have been wounded in a strike. He has not been seen publicly.

"A lot of people ‌are saying that he's badly disfigured. They're saying that he lost ⁠his ⁠leg ... and he's been hurt very badly. Other people are saying he's dead," Trump said.

Oman has attempted multiple times to open a line of communication between the United States and Iran, but the White House made it clear it is not interested at this juncture, Reuters reported on Saturday.

World

Middle East War ‘Not a Matter for NATO’, Says Germany’s Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, attends a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten after their meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, attends a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten after their meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP)
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Middle East War ‘Not a Matter for NATO’, Says Germany’s Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, attends a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten after their meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, attends a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten after their meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP)

Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday said the war in the Middle East started by US-Israeli strikes on Iran was "not a matter for NATO" and Germany would not be taking part in it.

"It has been clear at all times that this war is not a matter for NATO," Merz said, adding that the US and Israel "did not consult us prior to this war".

"There was never a joint decision on whether to intervene. That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise. We will not do so," Merz said at a press conference alongside his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday called for nations including South Korea, France, China and Britain to help ensure safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has declared closed to US and US-allied traffic.

He later upped the pressure on NATO allies, telling the Financial Times newspaper that the alliance faced a "very bad" future if its members did not do their bit to reopen the strait.

Merz ruled out Germany sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz.

"For as long as the war continues, we will not be involved in ensuring free passage in the Strait of Hormuz by military means," he said.

Merz's spokesman Stefan Kornelius earlier also said the war had "nothing to do with NATO".

"NATO is an alliance for the defense of territory" and "the mandate to deploy NATO is lacking", Kornelius told a regular press briefing.

At a separate briefing on Monday, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany wanted all those involved to prevent "further military escalation".

"There will be no military participation" from Germany but Berlin is prepared to support diplomatic efforts to "to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz", he said.

"We have a situation which we did not provoke... This war started without any consultations," Pistorius added.

Germany's main responsibility is "for the eastern flank and the high north", he said, and "we stay committed to that but we can't be anywhere in the world".

"What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in the Strait of Hormuz that the mighty US navy cannot manage alone? This is the question I find myself asking," Pistorius said.