El Salvador was only the most recent. Instead, it is putting pressure on the 17 countries that still have diplomatic relations with Taiwan to keep those ties and not establish formal relations with China. It has conducted naval exercises in the Taiwan Strait and Chinese bombers have flown around the island in a threatening show of force. In 1996, when China conducted military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, the Clinton administration sent two aircraft carrier battle groups to the vicinity of Taiwan. But if China continues to pressure Taiwan on every front, the Trump administration may well be justified in notifying Congress of a threat to Taiwan, for a threat there certainly is.

Source: Manila Times September 17, 2018 17:37 UTC