**The Defense Minister of Taiwan has warned that 2026 could be a critical year in the Taiwan Strait with heightened tensions due to several factors, including China’s military expansion and the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan.**.
**Tensions Rise Between Taiwan and China**.
Taiwan has been facing increasing military pressure from China, which claims the island as its own territory. In recent years, China has been ramping up its military exercises around Taiwan, sending warplanes into Taiwan’s airspace, and conducting naval drills in the waters surrounding the island..
The Defense Minister of Taiwan, Chiu Kuo-cheng, said in a recent interview that 2026 will be a .
