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.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping enter the hall during a signing ceremony on May 20, 2026, in Beijing, China. (Getty Images)