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"China has zero interest to invade Taiwan and has never threatened to invade Taiwan."

“I think we’ll be just fine with China. China doesn’t want to do that [invade Taiwan].”

"There's no indications or warnings of anything imminent [China attacking Taiwan] at this time."

a P.L.A. takeover of Taiwan is not inevitable nor, perhaps, even likely in the next few years."

"I wouldn't say war is likely in the next few years, but I wouldn't say it's unlikely over the next couple of decades."

"I think they (the Chinese) have intention, but absolutely I think we can get to the end of this decade without them committing major aggression against Taiwan."

"[T]here might indeed be some greater willingness by Beijing to coerce (or even invade) Taiwan during a Trump administration."

"An invasion of Taiwan could happen within this decade."

"Global Guardian thinks that the window for conflict or a blockade is now open, with that window most likely remaining open between 2024 and 2028."

"The idea is that anything we are working on, anything that we are investing in, needs to be built with the assumption that sometime in 2027, China is going to move on Taiwan."

“Taiwan is clearly one of [China's] ambitions before that and I think the threat is manifest during this decade — in fact, in the next six years.”

Will China Invade Taiwan by 2030?

Foreign ministers from Asia, Europe and North America gathered in Manila for the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum, with the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz topping the agenda for the 11-nation bloc, whose combined GDP of roughly $3.8 trillion is heavily reliant on Middle East oil.

Foreign ministers from Asia, Europe and North America gathered in Manila for the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum, with the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz topping the agenda for the 11-nation bloc, whose combined GDP of roughly $3.8 trillion is heavily reliant on Middle East oil.

ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for an immediate halt to fighting in the Middle East and the full and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming that states must resolve differences peacefully and respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for an immediate halt to fighting in the Middle East and the full and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming that states must resolve differences peacefully and respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN gathering on Wednesday, with both sides agreeing to prepare for a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S. in September.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN gathering on Wednesday, with both sides agreeing to prepare for a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S. in September.

Two separate incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels occurred during the Manila meetings. On Monday, a Filipino sailor was struck on the head with a wooden baton at the Second Thomas Shoal, and on Thursday China's coast guard used water cannon on a Philippine fisheries vessel near Scarborough Shoal.

Two separate incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels occurred during the Manila meetings. On Monday, a Filipino sailor was struck on the head with a wooden baton at the Second Thomas Shoal, and on Thursday China's coast guard used water cannon on a Philippine fisheries vessel near Scarborough Shoal.

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/rubio-and-lavrov-huddle-in-the-philippines-for-ukraine-talks">Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov</a> on the sidelines of the forum for just under an hour to discuss the Ukraine war. Russia's foreign ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness for a diplomatic settlement, while Rubio said Washington was prepared to play a constructive role in ending the conflict.

Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the forum for just under an hour to discuss the Ukraine war. Russia's foreign ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness for a diplomatic settlement, while Rubio said Washington was prepared to play a constructive role in ending the conflict.

On the sidelines of the forum, Rubio joined foreign ministers from India, Japan and Australia for a Quad meeting, reaffirming commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro opened the meetings urging member states to pursue collective action amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.

On the sidelines of the forum, Rubio joined foreign ministers from India, Japan and Australia for a Quad meeting, reaffirming commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro opened the meetings urging member states to pursue collective action amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.

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Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the forum for just under an hour to discuss the Ukraine war. Russia's foreign ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness for a diplomatic settlement, while Rubio said Washington was prepared to play a constructive role in ending the conflict.

Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a Southeast Asian concern too. The US isn't imposing conflict on ASEAN; it's defending the same waterways ASEAN's economies depend on and standing up for their sovereignty against reckless and aggressive Chinese expansion in the region. Rubio is in Manila precisely because this administration treats those shared interests as real commitments.

Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a Southeast Asian concern too. The US isn't imposing conflict on ASEAN; it's defending the same waterways ASEAN's economies depend on and standing up for their sovereignty against reckless and aggressive Chinese expansion in the region. Rubio is in Manila precisely because this administration treats those shared interests as real commitments.

ASEAN nations are growing deeply skeptical of U.S. leadership, with polling showing that many in the region prefer China over the U.S. The Strait of Hormuz closure has already triggered energy shortages and price hikes across Malaysia and Thailand, making the human cost the conflict impossible to ignore. The U.S. cannot expect allies to bear the burden of their actions.

ASEAN nations are growing deeply skeptical of U.S. leadership, with polling showing that many in the region prefer China over the U.S. The Strait of Hormuz closure has already triggered energy shortages and price hikes across Malaysia and Thailand, making the human cost the conflict impossible to ignore. The U.S. cannot expect allies to bear the burden of their actions.

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ASEAN Forum Tackles Iran War, Hormuz Crisis

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ASEAN Forum Tackles Iran War, Hormuz Crisis

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ASEAN nations are growing deeply skeptical of U.S. leadership, with polling showing that many in the region prefer China over the U.S. The Strait of Hormuz closure has already triggered energy shortages and price hikes across Malaysia and Thailand, making the human cost the Iran conflict impossible to ignore. The U.S. cannot expect allies to bear the burden of its actions.

ASEAN nations are growing deeply skeptical of U.S. leadership, with polling showing that many in the region prefer China over the U.S. The Strait of Hormuz closure has already triggered energy shortages and price hikes across Malaysia and Thailand, making the human cost the Iran conflict impossible to ignore. The U.S. cannot expect allies to bear the burden of its actions.

ASEAN Forum Tackles Iran War, Hormuz Crisis

ASEAN Forum Tackles Iran War, Hormuz Crisis

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ASEAN Forum Tackles Iran War, Hormuz Crisis

ASEAN Forum Tackles Iran War, Hormuz Crisis

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