The Chinese military is encroaching on Taiwan's sea lanes, its airspace, its cyberspace. I know you have said that Xi Jinping wouldn't dare move militarily on Taiwan while you're in office. But what if he does? Would you order U.S. Forces to defend Taiwan? You'll find out if it happens, Trump replied, coyly. And he understands the answer to that.
During July and August at least 12 oil and gas vessels and permanent structures were detected inside Taiwan's EEZ including one within 50km of the restricted-waters border of the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands as well as several steel supports for fixed offshore drilling platforms, called jackets. Their presence inside Taiwan's EEZ have not been previously reported. Experts said the activity fit the pattern of Beijing's greyzone strategies for seizing disputed territory.