While on Taiwan Talks, Riley Walters explains that joint military drills are primarily a Beijing-led initiative to test regional reactions, threaten Japanese territorial authority, and project power in the Pacific. He notes China’s grey-zone maneuvers justify Tokyo’s defense modernization and risk escalating a potential Taiwan scenario into a broader global conflict.
Caption
US sailors conduct routine maintenance on a jet blast deflector on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on July 9, 2025. (US Navy)