INTERNACIONAL
China launches large military drills around Taiwan to issue ‘severe warning’
China’s military launched large-scale drills around Taiwan Tuesday to send a «severe warning» and a message of «forceful containment against Taiwan independence,» Beijing officials said.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it had tracked 19 Chinese navy vessels in the waters surrounding the island in a 24-hour period from 6 a.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. The exercises – which involved Chinese navy, air, ground and rocket forces – were unannounced.
«China’s blatant military provocations not only threaten peace in the Taiwan Strait but also undermine security in the entire region, as evidenced by drills near Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and the South China Sea,» Taiwan’s Presidential Office wrote on X. «We strongly condemn China’s escalatory behavior.»
Taiwan defense officials added that they had been tracking the movement of China’s Shandong aircraft carrier since Saturday and that its carrier group had entered into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on Monday. In response, Taiwan dispatched military aircraft and ships and activated land-based missile systems, according to Reuters.
THE US IS NOT READY FOR A NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN WITH CHINA, KEY CONSERVATIVES WARN TRUMP
China’s Shandong aircraft carrier is seen in this screenshot taken from a video titled «Subdue Demons and Vanquish Evils», released by the Eastern Theater Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army on April 1, 2025. (Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters)
«I want to say these actions amply reflect (China’s) destruction of regional peace and stability,» Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday that «the National Security Council briefed me on this, this morning, and they said that the president is emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, encouraging the peaceful resolution of these cross-strait issues, [and] reiterating our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.»
China’s Xinhua News Agency said the Eastern Theater Command on Tuesday conducted «multi-subject drills in waters to the north, south and east of Taiwan Island.»
The theater command «organized its vessel and aircraft formations, in coordination with conventional missile troops and long-range rocket launching systems, to conduct drills of air interception, assault on maritime targets, strikes on ground objects, and joint blockade and control,» Xinhua quoted the command as saying.
TAIWAN’S VOLUNTEER MILITARY SHRINKS AMID GROWING CHINESE AGGRESSION
A military jet lands at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on April 1. (Reuters/Annabelle Chih)
The exercises were «aimed at testing the troops’ capabilities of carrying out integrated operations, seizure of operational control and multi-directional precision strikes, the command said.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office also said the exercises were directed at Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s strongly pro-independence president.
This image released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense shows China’s Shandong aircraft carrier sailing near Taiwan on Monday, March 31. (Taiwan Ministry of National Defense via AP)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
«Lai Ching-te stubbornly insists on a ‘Taiwan independence’ stance, brazenly labeling the mainland as a ‘foreign hostile force,’ and has put forward a so-called «17-point strategy … stirring up anti-China sentiments,» China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement. «We will not tolerate or condone this in any way and must resolutely counter and severely punish these actions.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
El ataque Irán: escaso apoyo en Estados Unidos a la ofensiva militar lanzada por Donald Trump contra el régimen de los ayatollahs
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump on Monday sent an official notification to Congress about the U.S. strikes against Iran, in which he attempted to justify the military action in the now expanding conflict in the Middle East.
In a letter obtained by FOX News, Trump told Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, that «no U.S. ground forces were used in these strikes» and that the mission «was planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties, deter future attacks, and neutralize Iran’s malign activities.»
This comes after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran on Saturday as part of Operation Epic Fury, triggering a response from Tehran and a wider conflict in the region. The strikes killed the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other military leaders.
President Donald Trump on Monday sent an official notification to Congress about the U.S. strikes against Iran. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Trump wrote that it is not yet possible to know the full scope of military operations against Iran and that U.S. forces are prepared to take potential further action.
«Although the United States desires a quick and enduring peace, not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary,» Trump wrote. «As such, United States forces remain postured to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats and attacks upon the United States or its allies and partners, and ensure the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ceases being a threat to the United States, its allies, and the international community.»
«I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests both at home and abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests,» he added. «I acted pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations.»
A general view of Tehran with smoke visible in the distance after explosions were reported in the city, on March 2, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. (Contributor/Getty Images)
Trump said he was «providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution,» as some Republican and Democrat lawmakers attempt to restrain the president’s military action, which they affirm is unconstitutional without congressional approval.
The president also accused Iran of being among the largest state sponsors of terrorism in the world and purported that the «Iranian regime continues to seek the means to possess and employ nuclear weapons,» even after the White House said in June that precision strikes at the time «obliterated» Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities.
US SURGES FORCES TO MIDDLE EAST AS PENTAGON WARNS IRAN FIGHT ‘WILL TAKE SOME TIME’
A person holds an image of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranian demonstrators protest against the U.S.-Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 28, 2026. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
«As I previously communicated to the Congress, Iran remains one of the largest, if not the largest, state-sponsors of terrorism in the world,» Trump said in the letter on Monday. «Despite the success of Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER, the Iranian regime continues to seek the means to possess and employ nuclear weapons. Its array of ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, and other missiles pose a direct threat to and are attacking United States forces, commercial vessels, and civilians, as well as those of our allies and partners.»
«Despite my Administration’s repeated efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to Iran’s malign behavior, the threat to the United States and its allies and partners became untenable,» he continued.
Fox News’ Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
Related Article
war with iran,iran,middle east,conflicts,donald trump,politics
INTERNACIONAL
Iran nuclear talks ‘didn’t pass the smell test’ before Trump launched strikes, says Vance
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Vice President JD Vance confirmed Monday that negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program collapsed after U.S. officials concluded Tehran’s claims «did not pass the smell test,» prompting President Donald Trump to authorize Operation Epic Fury.
Speaking on «Jesse Watters Primetime,» Vance said U.S. envoys — including Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner — had conducted rounds of «deliberate» talks in Geneva with the Iranian delegation.
The discussions were aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief and averting a broader conflict, he said, but ultimately broke down.
«But the Iranians would come back to us and they’d say, ‘Well, you know, having enrichment for civilian purposes, for energy purposes, is a matter of national pride,’» Vance said.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff and U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner meet ahead of the U.S.-Iran talks, in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Feb. 06, 2026. (Oman Foreign Ministry/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«And so we would say, ‘OK, that’s interesting, but why are you building your enrichment facilities 70 feet underground? And why are you enriching to a level that’s way beyond civilian enrichment and is only useful if your goal is to build a nuclear bomb?’» he said.
«Nobody objects to the Iranians being able to build medical isotopes; the objection is these enrichment facilities that are only useful for building a nuclear weapon,» Vance clarified.
«It just doesn’t pass the smell test for you to say that you want enrichment for medical isotopes, while at the same time trying to build a facility 70 to 80 feet underground,» he explained.
TRUMP DECLARES ‘I GOT HIM BEFORE HE GOT ME’ AFTER IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER KILLED IN STRIKE
This image from video provided by U.S. Central Command shows a missile being launched from a U.S. Navy ship in support of Operation Epic Fury on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Central Command via AP)
Vance spoke as Operation Epic Fury ended its third day. Launched on Feb. 28, U.S. and Israeli forces carried out coordinated precision strikes deep inside Iran aimed at crippling Tehran’s missile arsenal and nuclear infrastructure.
A key issue had been Iran enriching uranium to high levels, including material around 60% purity — a fraction of weapons-grade but far above limits set under the 2015 nuclear deal — keeping international alarm high over proliferation risks.
«We destroyed Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon during President Trump’s term,» Vance told Watters. «We set them back substantially. But I think the President was looking for the long haul,» he said.
«Trump was looking for Iran to make a significant long-term commitment that they would never build a nuclear weapon, that they would not pursue the ability to be on the brink of a nuclear weapon.»
FIRES RAGE AT IRAN’S BANDAR ABBAS NAVAL HEADQUARTERS, STRAIT OF HORMUZ TRAFFIC STALLED
Vice President JD Vance speaks with Breitbart News Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Nov. 20, 2025, in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
«He wanted to make sure that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon, and that would require fundamentally a change in mindset from the Iranian regime.»
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
«The President is not going to rest until he accomplishes that all-important objective of ensuring that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon, not just for the next few years, not just because we obliterated for dough or some other.»
«There’s just no way that Donald Trump is going to allow this country to get into a multiyear conflict with no clear end in sight and no clear objective,» Vance added while describing that the administration would prefer to see «a friendly regime in Iran, a stable country, a country that’s willing to work with the United States.»
Related Article
war with iran,ali khamenei,donald trump,jd vance,iran
Lilia Lemoine se burló de Florencia Carignano tras sus críticas al discurso de Milei
El Gobierno busca cerrar la guerra con el kirchnerismo por la integración de las comisiones del Senado
La incendiaria foto de L-Gante en la cama de la China Suárez: “Muy sexual”
“Doble beneficio” y un riesgo latente: cómo afectará el conflicto de Medio Oriente a la economía argentina
Qué dijo Arbeloa tras la roja de Mastantuono
Jade, enfermera veterinaria: “Este error diario con el bebedero de tu perro puede poner en riesgo su salud”
Evangelina Anderson contó qué pasará con sus hijos ante el próximo desafío de Martín Demichelis en España
Destrozaron a Andrea del Boca por el terrible pecado que tuvo en Gran Hermano: “La quiero presa”, apuntaron contra la actriz por un detalle en la cocina
¡Tensión en vivo! Aníbal Pachano y Nancy Pazos protagonizaron un cruce explosivo en la mesa de Mirtha Legrand
Las predicciones más importantes en la vida de cada signo del horóscopo en marzo, según Jimena La Torre: «Será un cambio rotundo»
CHIMENTOS2 días agoDestrozaron a Andrea del Boca por el terrible pecado que tuvo en Gran Hermano: “La quiero presa”, apuntaron contra la actriz por un detalle en la cocina
- CHIMENTOS2 días ago
¡Tensión en vivo! Aníbal Pachano y Nancy Pazos protagonizaron un cruce explosivo en la mesa de Mirtha Legrand
- CHIMENTOS2 días ago
Las predicciones más importantes en la vida de cada signo del horóscopo en marzo, según Jimena La Torre: «Será un cambio rotundo»
