The White House’s push to confront China reassured officials in Taipei, who watched President Trump’s shift on Ukraine with alarm.

Taiwan has long been the most tense flashpoint between Washington and Beijing. By law, the U.S. is required to help Taiwan defend its democracy. This week, China’s People’s Liberation Army launched new drills and sent ships around Taiwan.

One analyst called China’s large-scale drills a “pre-invasion operation” as it ramps up attacks on Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, calling him a “parasite.”

In addition to facing new tariffs and landing at the top of President Trump's list of "bad actors" in his tariff announcement, China has another reason to be angry: Taiwan was listed as a country. Even before Beijing has officially weighed in on the 34% tariff announced by Trump,

Taiwan's defence ministry on Thursday detailed a surge in Chinese military activity as Beijing wrapped up a second day of war games overnight Wednesday, saying it had detected 59 warplanes and 23 navy ships operating around the island.

China staged military drills off Taiwan's north, south and east coasts on Tuesday as a "stern warning" against separatism and called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a "parasite," as Taiwan sent warships to respond to China's navy approaching its shores.

China launched massive surprise military drills around Taiwan days after the US defense secretary on a trip to Asia pledged to counter Chinese “aggression.”

China's launches drills around Taiwan to "severely punish" the island's pro-independence leader, as the U.S. boosts its war footing in Japan to deter Chinese "aggression."

Chinese goods were already subject to a 20% levy at the U.S. border. Trump imposed an additional 34% tariff on Beijing on Wednesday − taking the total to 54% − as part of his program of "reciprocal tariffs" targeted at nations he says have been unfair to the U.