The United States on Thursday criticised China’s recent military exercises around Taiwan, saying they “unnecessarily” heightened tensions in the region and called on Beijing to stop exerting pressure on the island
The United States on Thursday criticised China’s recent military exercises around Taiwan, saying they “unnecessarily” heightened tensions in the region and called on Beijing to stop exerting pressure on the island.
“China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue,” AFP quoted State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott as saying in a statement.
China conducted missile launches and deployed dozens of fighter jets, naval vessels, and coastguard ships on Monday and Tuesday, claiming the drills simulated a blockade of Taiwan’s main ports.
Taipei denounced the exercises as “highly provocative.”
China considers democratic Taiwan part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it.
“The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion,” Pigott added.
US President Donald Trump said Monday he was not concerned about China’s live-fire drills, appearing to brush aside the possibility of counterpart Xi Jinping ordering an invasion.
“I have a great relationship with President Xi. And he hasn’t told me anything about it. I certainly have seen it,” Trump told reporters when asked about the exercises.
“I don’t believe he’s going to be doing it,” Trump said in apparent reference to an invasion.
“They’ve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area. Now people take it a little bit differently.”
Beijing’s display of military force followed the Trump administration’s approval of an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan.
The United States has long maintained a commitment to Taiwan’s self-defense while deliberately remaining ambiguous on whether American forces would intervene in the event of an invasion.
China’s latest exercises mark the sixth major round of military maneuvers around Taiwan since 2022, when a visit by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sparked Beijing’s ire.
With inputs from agencies
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