China’s Taiwan Exercises ‘Unnecessarily Escalatory,’ Says US State Department
Washington urges Beijing to halt military pressure on Taiwan.
The United States State Department has strongly criticized China's recent large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, describing them as unnecessarily escalating tensions in the region. In a statement issued Thursday, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott condemned Beijing's actions and called on China to immediately cease its military pressure against Taiwan while urging engagement in meaningful dialogue instead.
China conducted extensive drills on Monday and Tuesday, launching missiles, deploying dozens of fighter jets, navy ships, and coastguard vessels to encircle Taiwan's main island. The exercises were designed to simulate a blockade of key Taiwanese ports, prompting sharp condemnation from Taipei, which labeled the maneuvers as highly provocative. Beijing maintains that democratic Taiwan is an inseparable part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to use force to achieve reunification.
The United States reiterated its longstanding commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through force or coercion. Pigott emphasized that Washington supports Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and opposes actions that heighten regional instability. The criticism follows the recent approval of an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan by the Trump administration.
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President Donald Trump downplayed concerns over the Chinese exercises, stating he maintains a strong relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and does not anticipate an invasion. Speaking to reporters, Trump noted that naval exercises in the area have occurred for two decades and suggested that the current maneuvers were being interpreted differently due to heightened sensitivities. He expressed confidence that Beijing would not proceed with aggressive action.
This latest round of Chinese military drills marks the sixth major exercise since 2022, when a visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi triggered intense backlash from Beijing. The ongoing pattern of large-scale maneuvers underscores persistent tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with the United States continuing its policy of strategic ambiguity regarding direct military intervention in the event of a Chinese invasion.
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