India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar hosted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for talks focused on recent developments across the Indo-Pacific and ways to advance cooperation among the four countries, according to India’s foreign ministry.

The meeting took place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions across Asia and ongoing concerns among Quad members about China’s growing military and economic footprint in the Indo-Pacific. The grouping has increasingly emphasized cooperation on maritime security, resilient supply chains, critical technologies and strategic infrastructure.

Officials were also expected to discuss the conflict involving Iran and disruptions to energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil and gas trade.

The Quad has repeatedly expressed concern over Chinese activities in the South China Sea, where Beijing has asserted extensive territorial claims and expanded its military presence. China has rejected accusations of coercive behavior, saying its military posture is defensive and aimed at safeguarding what it considers sovereign rights. Beijing has also criticized the Quad, describing it as an effort to contain China’s rise and regional influence.

The talks came days after U.S. President Donald Trump visited China, a trip closely watched in New Delhi and other regional capitals for indications of any shift in Washington’s approach toward Beijing.

Rubio, who arrived in India on Saturday, said Washington wants the Quad to evolve beyond a consultative forum and pursue more tangible cooperation, including on maritime security and critical minerals. He also said officials were working toward a summit of Quad leaders later this year, though no date has been announced.

The four countries had previously aimed to hold a leaders’ summit in India last year, but the plan was postponed amid strains in U.S.-India relations, including disagreements over trade tariffs.

The Quad has emerged as one of the Indo-Pacific’s most prominent strategic partnerships, with members seeking closer coordination on regional security and economic resilience as competition between China and Western-aligned powers intensifies.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it detected 21 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles, operating around Taiwan on Monday alongside Chinese naval vessels participating in what Beijing describes as a joint combat readiness patrol.

The patrol marked the second such operation within a week and came as Taiwan remains alert to potential shifts in Chinese military behavior following discussions on Taiwan between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump during Trump’s recent visit to Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has steadily increased military pressure on the island through frequent deployments of warships and military aircraft. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that only the island’s people can determine their future.

According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, the Chinese aircraft and naval vessels operated around multiple sectors of the island before the patrol concluded. Taipei responded by dispatching ships and combat aircraft to monitor the movements and maintain surveillance.

The ministry also released images captured by Taiwanese forces, including photographs from an F-16 fighter showing two Chinese aircraft flying near a Y-20 aerial refueling tanker. Additional images showed the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Yinchuan and a Taiwanese sailor observing the vessel through binoculars.

Speaking in Taipei on Tuesday, Pan Chun-kuang of the defense ministry’s intelligence department said the latest patrol had ended but stressed that Taiwan continued to monitor Chinese military activities in surrounding waters and airspace.

Pan said Taiwan was closely tracking the movements of China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Western Pacific and would provide additional information on Chinese deployments when necessary.

The latest operation followed a similar Chinese readiness patrol conducted last Tuesday, one day before Taiwan President Lai Ching-te marked the second anniversary of his administration. Beijing has repeatedly labeled Lai a separatist and has rejected his offers for dialogue.

Military activity has also extended beyond the Taiwan Strait. Over the weekend, Taiwan’s coast guard reported an encounter with a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, a strategically important outpost in the northern reaches of the South China Sea.

Separately, Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu said on social media that approximately 100 Chinese vessels were operating within the so-called first island chain, a strategic maritime corridor stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines.

China’s Ministry of National Defense did not immediately comment on Taiwan’s account of the patrol.

The increased tempo of Chinese military operations reflects Beijing’s continued effort to assert its claims over Taiwan while testing the island’s defensive readiness and signaling its opposition to any moves it perceives as supporting Taiwanese sovereignty.

Official trade data showed Taiwan exported 181,159 drones between January and April, almost 20 times the volume recorded during the same period a year earlier and exceeding total exports for all of 2025. The majority of shipments were sent to the Czech Republic and Poland, destinations industry observers believe serve as transit points for equipment ultimately supporting Ukraine’s defense effort.

The sharp rise highlights how the Russia-Ukraine war has transformed the global drone market, with low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles becoming essential tools for reconnaissance, surveillance and precision strikes. The conflict has accelerated military spending worldwide and increased demand for alternative drone suppliers outside China.

Taiwan is positioning itself as an Asian production center for so-called “non-red” drones and components, a term used by industry participants to describe products free from Chinese materials and supply chains. The strategy aligns with broader efforts by Western governments and defense industries to reduce dependence on Chinese technology.

While Taiwanese manufacturers benefit from the island’s advanced electronics ecosystem, including strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, they face significant cost disadvantages. Industry executives say non-Chinese drones can cost up to three times more than comparable products from Chinese manufacturers such as DJI, which dominates the global commercial drone market through large-scale production.

Analysts say overseas sales have become increasingly important for Taiwan’s emerging drone sector because domestic demand remains limited. Samara Duerr, a policy analyst at the Taiwan government-backed Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology, said international markets provide manufacturers with the scale and operational experience needed to expand production capacity.

The export boom also reflects opportunities created by Beijing’s tightening restrictions on drone exports in recent years. Those controls have encouraged foreign buyers to seek alternative suppliers, benefiting Taiwanese firms attempting to establish themselves in global supply chains.

Taiwan’s government has set ambitious targets for the sector, aiming to increase monthly production capacity to 100,000 drones by 2030, significantly above earlier goals. Officials view drone manufacturing as both an economic opportunity and a strategic necessity as Taiwan seeks to strengthen its defense capabilities in the face of military pressure from China.

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has intensified military activity around the island in recent years. Taipei sees the development of a domestic drone industry as part of broader efforts to enhance self-reliance and deterrence.

Industry leaders argue, however, that progress is being constrained by delays in government procurement programs. Plans to acquire more than 200,000 domestically produced drones under a proposed defense package worth nearly $40 billion have been stalled in Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament.

Max Lo, chairman of drone manufacturer AeroSoarX, said overseas contracts were essential for maintaining production lines while domestic orders remain uncertain. Taiwanese companies have increasingly pursued customers in Eastern Europe, particularly those involved in supporting Ukraine’s war effort.

Despite strong export growth, industry experts caution that Taiwan faces formidable competition. Ukraine has rapidly developed its own drone manufacturing ecosystem during the war and could emerge as a major exporter once hostilities end. Chinese producers also continue to dominate many segments of the market through lower prices and extensive manufacturing capacity.

Marcin Jerzewski of the European Values Center for Security Policy said one challenge for Taiwanese firms is proving their systems can perform under combat conditions, an area where Ukrainian manufacturers now possess extensive battlefield experience.

Analysts say Taiwan may ultimately find its strongest competitive advantage in specialized drone components rather than complete systems. Artur Savchii of Ukraine’s Snake Island Institute pointed to areas such as lithium-ion cells and advanced electronic components, where Taiwan’s technology sector could help reduce global dependence on Chinese suppliers.

Taiwanese companies are also expanding internationally through partnerships and joint ventures. Drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger has established a venture to produce drone motors in the U.S. state of Ohio and is exploring further expansion into Europe, betting that security concerns over Chinese technology will continue to drive demand for alternative suppliers.

The meeting brought together India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Rubio at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty across the Indo-Pacific.

The talks came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a high-profile visit to China, during which he emphasized cooperation between Washington and Beijing. The visit was closely watched by regional partners concerned that closer U.S.-China engagement could diminish the strategic influence of allied nations seeking to balance China’s growing power.

The Quad, comprising the United States, India, Japan and Australia, has evolved into a key platform for cooperation on maritime security, critical technologies, supply chains and regional stability. The grouping is viewed by Beijing as an effort to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, a characterization its members reject.Rubio has sought to maintain momentum behind the alliance since taking office.

One of his first diplomatic initiatives was convening Quad foreign ministers in Washington shortly after his appointment, followed by another ministerial meeting in July 2025.Despite those efforts, uncertainty has lingered over the group’s future direction after a planned leaders’ summit in India failed to materialize last year.

The cancellation fueled concerns among some regional observers about Washington’s long-term commitment to institutionalizing the partnership.During his first official visit to India as secretary of state, Rubio said he hoped to lay the groundwork for a future summit involving Trump and the other Quad leaders. He emphasized the need for practical outcomes and concrete initiatives that leaders could announce when they eventually meet.

Among the priorities discussed was cooperation on critical minerals, an area that has gained strategic importance as governments seek to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains for resources essential to advanced technologies, electric vehicles and defense systems.Rubio also highlighted maritime security as a central area for deeper collaboration.

Concerns about China’s expanding naval presence and territorial claims remain a shared issue for several Quad members, particularly Japan, which faces growing security challenges in nearby waters.The meeting unfolded against the backdrop of tensions in the Middle East following conflict involving Iran and disruptions affecting energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Rising oil prices have created additional economic pressures for major importers such as India and Japan.Differences among U.S. partners over Washington’s policy toward Iran have complicated diplomatic coordination. While Australia expressed understanding of concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program, neither Canberra, Tokyo nor New Delhi provided direct support for military action against Tehran.

Japan and India have historically maintained pragmatic relations with Iran and have previously balanced those ties against U.S. sanctions policies and broader strategic interests.Ahead of the Quad meeting, Motegi met Jaishankar in New Delhi and warned of a rapidly evolving global security environment shaped by shifting power balances and growing geopolitical competition.

Jaishankar, meanwhile, sought to ease concerns about U.S. engagement with the Quad, noting that Trump had supported the grouping during his first administration and remained invested in Indo-Pacific cooperation.The Quad was originally championed by late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who envisioned closer coordination among the four democracies in response to changing regional dynamics.

Under former U.S. President Joe Biden, the grouping broadened its agenda beyond security to include public health, infrastructure resilience, emerging technologies and supply-chain security.Tuesday’s meeting represented the latest attempt by member states to demonstrate continuity in the partnership as strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific intensifies and broader global conflicts test the cohesion of U.S.-led alliances.

Munir, who has emerged as Pakistan’s principal intermediary in contacts between Washington and Tehran, arrived in China after a visit to Iran on Friday and Saturday alongside Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The trip formed part of ongoing regional consultations following recent efforts to advance negotiations between the two adversaries.

Sharif is on a four-day official visit to China that began on Saturday in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. Meetings in Beijing brought together Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership with senior Chinese officials at a time of heightened diplomatic activity across the region.

Addressing Chinese leaders alongside Munir, Sharif said the international community was facing a critical period and highlighted Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran. Pakistan state television showed Sharif thanking China for supporting initiatives aimed at promoting regional peace and stability.

China has publicly backed Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement, saying it is prepared to work with Islamabad to contribute to the restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East.

While Pakistan has taken a visible role in mediation efforts, Beijing has largely operated behind the scenes through consultations and contacts with regional governments.
Pakistan elevated its diplomatic profile last month by hosting direct talks between US and Iranian officials, the first face-to-face negotiations between the two sides since the outbreak of the Iran conflict.

The discussions were viewed as a significant breakthrough in communication channels but ended without a lasting agreement.

Munir played a prominent role during those negotiations, receiving delegations upon arrival and participating in high-level engagements surrounding the talks. Despite the diplomatic opening, negotiations stalled after Iranian officials accused the United States of presenting demands they considered unacceptable.

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The presence of both Sharif and Munir in Beijing underscores the growing coordination between Pakistan and China on regional security issues and highlights Islamabad’s effort to maintain momentum in diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The blast struck the Liushenyu mine shaft on Friday while 247 workers were underground, making it China’s deadliest mining accident since 2009. Authorities said hundreds of rescuers, medical personnel and emergency specialists have been deployed to the site as efforts continue to locate the remaining missing workers.

State media reported that 128 injured miners had been transported to hospitals by Saturday evening, while rescue crews worked around the clock in hazardous underground conditions. Teams reportedly deployed robotic equipment to assess conditions inside the shaft and assist in the search operation.

Police sealed off access roads leading to the mine as emergency operations intensified. Rescue personnel were seen rotating in shifts to descend into the damaged shaft in hopes of finding survivors.

Chinese authorities have launched a formal investigation into the disaster. Preliminary findings indicate that the mine operator, identified as Shanxi Tongzhou Group, committed what officials described as serious legal and safety violations.

According to authorities, more than half of the workers underground at the time of the explosion had not been properly registered before entering the mine. Regulations require miners to complete facial-recognition verification or carry location-tracking identification devices before descending into operational shafts.

Officials said an individual responsible for the company has been taken into custody under Chinese law as investigators examine potential breaches of safety protocols and operational regulations.

The disaster prompted intervention by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, which ordered nationwide inspections and stricter enforcement measures targeting illegal mining activities, falsification of safety records, inaccurate worker headcounts and unauthorized contracting practices.

Survivor Wang Yong told state broadcaster CCTV that he smelled sulfur moments before the explosion. He said a cloud of smoke rapidly spread through the mine, causing panic among workers attempting to escape. Wang recounted seeing colleagues overcome by fumes before losing consciousness and later regaining awareness more than an hour afterward.

International leaders offered condolences following the accident. Sanae Takaichi expressed hope for the rescue of remaining workers, while Narendra Modi extended sympathies to affected families. Lai Ching-te said Taiwan was prepared to provide humanitarian assistance if needed.

The explosion occurred in Shanxi, the heart of China’s coal industry and one of the country’s largest coal-producing regions. Despite improvements in mine safety standards over recent decades, fatal accidents continue to occur as authorities grapple with enforcement challenges in an industry that remains critical to China’s energy supply.

The catastrophe is the deadliest mining disaster in China since a 2009 explosion in Heilongjiang killed 108 miners. It also surpasses the toll of a 2023 open-pit mine collapse in Inner Mongolia that claimed 53 lives.
China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, even as it continues to expand renewable energy generation capacity at a record pace.

The mission, scheduled under the Shenzhou-23 program, forms part of China’s broader strategy to expand long-duration human spaceflight experience while advancing capabilities needed for future deep-space exploration.The crew includes Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, with Lai becoming the first astronaut from Hong Kong to participate in a Chinese spaceflight mission.

The astronauts spoke at a press conference held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center ahead of the launch to the Tiangong Space Station, which serves as the centerpiece of China’s human spaceflight program.The extended mission is expected to provide valuable operational data on the physical and psychological effects of prolonged stays in orbit, as well as the performance of life-support systems and station infrastructure over extended durations.

China has identified a crewed lunar landing by 2030 as a strategic national objective. Achieving that goal will require the completion and testing of a range of new technologies, including lunar landers, next-generation crew spacecraft, launch systems and mission-control capabilities tailored specifically for operations beyond low-Earth orbit.

With fewer than four years remaining before its self-imposed deadline, China faces a demanding development schedule to demonstrate that all critical systems are ready for a lunar mission.

The effort underscores Beijing’s growing ambitions in space exploration and its determination to establish itself as a leading space power through independent technological development and sustained human presence beyond Earth orbit.

Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, said in a post on X that the deployment had taken place over the past few days following U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Wu said China was undermining the status quo and threatening peace and stability in the region.

A Taiwan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Chinese vessels had been detected before the Beijing summit but that the number operating in the region had risen above 100 in recent days.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory, has repeatedly stated that it reserves the right to use force to bring the island under its control.

Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and maintains that only its people can determine the island’s future.The reported increase in Chinese maritime activity came days after Trump referred to “the Taiwan problem” when asked whether he would discuss arms sales with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

Trump said he would speak with Lai and noted that he had held what he described as a productive meeting with Xi during his state visit to China.“We’ll work on that, the Taiwan problem,” Trump said on Wednesday.

Taiwan has frequently reported heightened Chinese military and coast guard operations around the island, activities that Taipei says are aimed at increasing pressure on its government and testing regional security responses.

The latest deployment, according to Taiwanese officials, extended across multiple strategic waterways in East Asia, underscoring Beijing’s expanding maritime presence at a time of heightened geopolitical scrutiny in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding seas.

The explosion occurred late on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, where 247 workers were on duty underground at the time of the accident, according to state news agency Xinhua. Rescue operations were continuing on Saturday as authorities worked to locate remaining workers and assess conditions at the site.

The mine is operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Group Liushenyu Coal Industry, a company established in 2010 and controlled by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, according to corporate records.Local emergency management authorities said the cause of the explosion remained under investigation.

Shanxi, China’s leading coal-producing region, has long been at the center of the country’s mining industry and has experienced numerous major industrial accidents over the decades.President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to spare no effort in treating the injured and conducting search-and-rescue operations, according to Xinhua.

He also called for a comprehensive investigation into the disaster and accountability for those found responsible under the law.Premier Li Qiang urged officials to ensure the timely release of information and enforce rigorous accountability measures as investigations proceed.

Xinhua reported that executives linked to the company operating the mine had been detained following the accident.Provincial authorities dispatched seven rescue and medical teams comprising 755 personnel to the disaster site, according to Qinyuan’s emergency management bureau.

China has significantly reduced fatalities in its coal mining sector over the past two decades through stricter safety regulations, modernization efforts and tougher enforcement standards.

Nevertheless, gas explosions and other underground hazards continue to pose risks in some mining operations.

The previous deadliest coal mining disaster in China occurred in 2009, when a coal and gas outburst at a mine in Heilongjiang province killed 108 people and injured 133.

Taiwan has been awaiting approval of a U.S. weapons package that Reuters previously reported could be worth as much as $14 billion. The issue has drawn increased attention after President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he had not yet decided whether to authorize the proposed sale following talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Questions over the status of the package intensified after Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on Thursday that arms sales to Taiwan had been paused to ensure sufficient munitions were available for Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February.

A source familiar with the matter disputed that characterization, saying arms transfers to Taiwan require years of planning, review and implementation and are unrelated to the conflict with Iran.
“These sales take years to process and are unrelated to Operation Epic Fury,” the source said, adding that the U.S. military maintained adequate munitions inventories to support the administration’s strategic objectives.

The comments come as Washington seeks to balance support for Taiwan’s defense capabilities with broader management of relations with Beijing. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly opposed U.S. arms sales to the island, urging Washington to halt such transfers.

The United States, while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan, is obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the self-governed island with the means to defend itself.

Following Trump’s meeting with Xi, U.S. officials reiterated that Washington’s policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.

Taiwan’s government said on Friday it had not received any information indicating delays to pending U.S. arms sales.

Taipei rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, maintaining that only the island’s people can determine their future.