US President Donald Trump has expressed that he is unconcerned about China’s military drills around Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said he has a good relationship with President Xi Jinping and had not been informed about the drills, adding that such naval exercises have been occurring in the area for the past 20 years.

The drills, which began on Monday, follow a recent announcement of one of the largest US arms sales to Taiwan. China described the exercises as a warning against “Taiwan independence separatist forces” and foreign interference, including 10 hours of live-fire drills in sea and air zones surrounding the island. The Chinese Eastern Theater Command has deployed destroyers, frigates, and fighter-bombers to test “sea-air coordination” and “integrated containment capabilities.”

Taiwan’s defense ministry reported detecting 130 Chinese military aircraft on Tuesday, 90 of which crossed the “median line,” an unofficial border China does not recognize. The ministry also noted the presence of over a dozen Chinese navy vessels, with Taiwan responding by deploying aircraft, ships, and coastal missile systems. Taiwan’s presidential office criticized the drills, calling them a challenge to international norms. President Lai Ching-te stressed that Taiwan would act responsibly to avoid escalating conflict while ensuring national security.

Experts suggest that the drills are aimed more at sending a message to the US, Trump, and Japan than at Taiwan. Susan Shirk, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, said the exercises express China’s displeasure over the US arms sales, which now include offensive weapons capable of striking the Chinese mainland. Concerns have been raised that Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy might reduce America’s commitment to Taiwan in exchange for economic benefits.

Alexander Neill of the Pacific Forum noted that China’s exercises demonstrate operational capability and that while Trump is correct that such drills have increased over two decades alongside China’s military modernization, his personal rapport with Xi is unlikely to influence China’s actions regarding Taiwan.

China has long vowed to “reunify” with Taiwan, including the potential use of force, and has increased military pressure in recent years. The US, while officially recognizing Beijing, remains Taiwan’s largest arms supplier, recently approving an $11 billion weapons package. China responded with sanctions against US defense firms and warned that attempts to contain it through Taiwan will fail. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that national reunification of Taiwan remains a historic mission and vowed to counter perceived provocations and US arms sales.