**Joint Military Exercises in the South China Sea**
On October 27, 2025, two US Navy SH-60R Seahawk helicopters took off from the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier for joint exercises with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. The first helicopter landed on the carrier's deck, followed by the F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter. The evacuation was conducted with the help of a special rescue system, and the crew was safely delivered to a secure location, where they were greeted by the South China Sea Fleet's marine corps.
**Details of the Incident and Reaction** According to the US Navy, the first DPP helicopter crashed into the water during a maneuver. All three crew members were rescued and are safe. The surviving pilots, who were the "cause" of the incident, stated that they had been assigned to perform "safe and stable" missions. The warships that were nearby were recalled to avoid any clashes with the Chinese coast guard ships.
**Geopolitical Focus: Taiwan, China, and the US** The incident occurred on the first day of the Sino-US summit in Washington DC, attended by President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The situation in the region escalated due to the arrival of US Navy ships in the Taiwan Strait. Later, Pei Ken verified the deployment of strategic bombers H-6K to imitate nuclear warheads, saying that "Taiwanese coordinates are just a fixed target."
**US Reaction** Minister of Defense Taiwan stated that after the last incident, the Chinese side had deliberately provoked the US by sending its ships through the Taiwan Strait. The US has adhered to the One China policy since establishing relations with Taiwan in 1979. Secretary of State Mark Rubio said that "Taiwan should not be abandoned" due to the overtures of Trump and Xi. At the same time, President Xi-Taiwan called on the US to abandon its military budget.
**Quotes**: — "All assigned missions were safe and stable," — said the US Navy. — "Taiwan should not be abandoned," — replied Mark Rubio. — "Taiwanese coordinates are just a fixed target," — said the Chinese SMI.
