Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

US is “deeply concerned” over China’s military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan


The US is “deeply concerned” over joint military exercises by Chinese forces in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. US State Department official spokesperson Matthew Miller urged China to act with restraint.

The US State Department statement came after China launched two-day military exercises on Thursday and Friday (May 23-24), involving land, sea, air and rocket forces, Taiwan News reported. China began the exercise a few days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan’s president on May 20.

Matthew Miller said in a statement, “The United States is deeply concerned by the People’s Liberation Army joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. We are closely monitoring PRC activities and coordinating with allies and partners regarding our common concerns.

Miller said using normal, routine and democratic change as a pretext for military provocation risks escalating and destroying long-standing norms that have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for years .

A US State Department spokesperson said, “The United States is deeply concerned by the People’s Liberation Army’s joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. We are closely monitoring PRC activities and coordinating with allies and partners regarding our common concerns.

“We urge Beijing to exercise restraint. Using normal, regular and democratic change as a pretext for military provocations risks escalating tensions and eroding long-standing norms that have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for decades, Which is important for regional and global security and prosperity and is a matter of international concern. ,” he/she added.

Matthew Miller said the US remains committed to its long-term One China policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, three joint communiqués and six assurances.

The exercises in the Taiwan Strait and areas adjacent to Taiwan-controlled islands off China’s coast began just days after Lai took office.

Days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan’s president, China launched two-day military exercises on Thursday in what it said was “punishment” for the country’s alleged “separatist acts”, CMNN reports.

As part of the exercises, dozens of Chinese warplanes carrying live ammunition carried out simulated strikes against “high-value military targets” of the “enemy” along with destroyers, frigates and missile speedboats, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV .

Despite never having control over Taiwan, China’s ruling Communist Party claims it as part of its territory and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary. China said it launched joint military exercises involving the army, navy, air force and rocket forces in areas around Taiwan at 7.45 am (local time) on Thursday.

As CNN reports, the exercise is taking place in the Taiwan Strait, a narrow area of ​​water that separates the island from mainland China as well as Taiwan’s north, south and east. They are also occurring near Taiwan’s outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wukiu and Dongyin, which are just off China’s southeast coast, according to a statement from the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command.

According to CNN, PLA Navy Colonel Li Xi, a spokesman for the command, described the exercise as “a stern punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan Independence Forces and a solemn warning against interference and provocation by outside forces.”

In retaliation, Taiwan has also deployed its warships to monitor the situation. Beijing considers Taiwan’s Lai a “dangerous separatist” because he/she supports the island’s sovereignty and unique identity, CNN reports. She replaced two-term President Tsai Ing-wen, giving the Democratic Progressive Party an unprecedented third consecutive term in power.

Beijing criticized Lai’s inaugural speech, in which he/she urged China to stop intimidating Taiwan. In his/her inaugural speech after being sworn in as Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te called on Beijing to stop bullying the island nation, which China continues to claim.

In his/her inaugural speech, Lai called on Beijing to “cease its political and military intimidation against Taiwan, share with Taiwan global responsibility for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as well as in the greater region, and ensure That the world be free from it.” Fear of war.”

Lai, a former doctor and Vice President, was inaugurated alongside newly appointed Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who recently took over as Taiwan’s principal ambassador to the United States.

Beijing publicly criticized both leaders and their party for defending Taiwan’s sovereignty. Despite never ruling the island, China’s ruling Communist Party claims it is part of its territory and has threatened to take over the island using force if necessary.



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