Why China-Taiwan Relations Are Getting So Tense

S ince the inaugurations of William Lai as Taiwan’s President in May 2024 and Donald Trump as U.S. President in January, Beijing has been on edge. Will Lai take provocative actions that demand a response? And what is Trump’s attitude toward Taiwan and its fight to remain outside China’s orbit?

US Doubles Stealth Jets Presence Near China

Kadena Air Base, located on the island of Okinawa, is the closest U.S. air base to Taiwan, with a distance of 370 miles. China has long threatened to use force against the self-ruled island of Taiwan, claiming it is part of Beijing’s territory, despite having never governed it.