Taiwan flexes military capabilities ahead of Trump-Xi talks

Taiwan has carried out live-fire military drills that included missile launches and the deployment of attack drones, officials reported. The exercises are the latest in a series of demonstrations intended to display the island's defense capabilities. The timing of the drills coincides with preparations for a summit in Washington next week, where US President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Observers expect Taiwan to be among the agenda items at the meeting, given its central role in US-China security discussions. Beijing has been pushing the United States over its military support for Taiwan, and the recent exercises are likely to feature in diplomatic exchanges between the two powers. Chinese concerns about arms and assistance to the self-governed island have been a persistent point of contention in bilateral relations. Taiwan's actions underscore the sensitivity of cross-strait issues as world leaders convene in Washington. The drills may shape the tone of the talks and could influence how the United States and China address regional security and military support for Taiwan during their discussions.