China Launches 100-Ship Perimeter Around Taiwan Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
China deploys 100 ships around Taiwan and conducts surprise Pacific drills ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, marking a significant escalation in the Strait.
POLICY WIRE — Taipei, Taiwan — China intensified tensions in the West Pacific on November 13, 2026, by surrounding Taiwan with a flotilla of 100 ships just days before the scheduled summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Officials described concurrent, unannounced military exercises in the Pacific as a form of silent intimidation directed at the island.
The buildup coincides with heightened diplomatic attention, as the G7 reaffirmed its stance on the Strait of Taiwan. Meanwhile, questions persist over the defensive capabilities of China’s HQ-17 air-defense system against potential amphibious operations.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)