Defense Monitor

China, Taiwan and a $14 Billion US Arms Shipment

US President Donald Trump says shipments of arms to Taiwan are ‘a very good negotiating chip’ with China. The Taiwan Relations Act says they are not, in fact, negotiable. And the world watches.
Iranians take a dip in the Persian Gulf amid pleasant weather off Bandar Abbas, Iran. The environment for global inflation and bond yields has become considerably less pleasant.Photographer: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images Europe
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It’s May 19, 2026, and the Strait of Hormuz has been closed for more than 2 1/2 months.