Analysis

China tests Australia’s, Trump’s resolve on Taiwan

The shifting geopolitical landscape has opened new opportunities for Xi Jinping in his plans to wrest control of Taiwan. Australia is now exposed.

Jessica SierNorth Asia correspondent

Feb 23, 2025 – 3.38pm

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Tokyo | China’s provocative deployment of three warships off Australia’s eastern coast signals a dramatic escalation in Beijing’s Taiwan strategy, testing both Australia’s military readiness and the United States’ commitment to regional allies under President Donald Trump.

And while it would be simple to blame China’s brazen war gaming on Trump for his apparent de facto permission to the world’s authoritarians to do as they please, there’s more at play.

Jessica Sier is the North Asia Correspondent for The Australian Financial Review. She is based in Tokyo, Japan. Jessica has previously written on technology, global capital markets and economics.