Beijing intensifies military pressure on Taiwan as U.S.-China talks resume

• China sent dozens of military aircrafts and naval ships toward Taiwan, some of which crossed over the Taiwan Strait.
• The military move came the same day as a low-profile meeting between U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
• The U.S. has repeatedly held its position on maintaining Taiwan's status quo of self-governance despite Beijing's rebukes and its stated aim of reunifying the island with mainland China.

Beijing sent dozens of military aircraft and naval ships toward Taiwan on Friday, the same day of a low-profile meeting between U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi aimed at stabilizing U.S.-China relations.

From 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday local time, China sent 33 military aircraft and six naval vessels toward Taiwan, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. Thirteen of the planes crossed over the Taiwan Strait.

The intensified military pressure comes as the U.S. and China are attempting to steer relations back on track after an icy couple of years. For example, at their meeting, Sullivan and Wang confirmed the plan to launch a collaborative U.S.-China "Counternarcotics Working Group" on Tuesday to address the fentanyl crisis.

"Mr. Sullivan underscored during the meeting that the United States and the PRC are in competition but the United States does not seek conflict or confrontation, and there are areas of cooperation in the relationship," a senior administration official said Saturday.

But China's military moves over the past 24 hours could complicate hopes for cooperation.

China's approach to Taiwan, which it considers its territory, is a sensitive sticking point in its precarious relationship with the U.S., which