The Biden administration said Saturday that American officials are “deeply concerned” about the extensive military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, putting pressure on China to “act with restraint.”
“The United States is deeply concerned about the People’s Liberation Army’s joint military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait,” said a Saturday declaration State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reads. “We are monitoring [People’s Republic of China] activities in close collaboration and coordination with allies and partners regarding our common concerns.”
“We strongly urge Beijing to act with restraint,” Miller continued. “Using a normal, routine, democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes long-standing norms that for decades have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is critical to security and prosperity.” regional and global and a matter of international concern. concern.”
China began new military exercises near Taiwan just days after inaugurating its new pro-US leader.
Beijing, which accused President William Lai Ching-te of raising tensions in his inaugural speech, held the drills – codenamed Joint Sword 2024A – from Thursday to Friday, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
Although the US is seen as a strong ally of Taiwan, it does not recognize the island as a separate state from the mainland. President Biden and the White House have emphasized their commitment to the one-China policy.
“The United States remains committed to its long-standing one-China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances,” Miller continued in the statement.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said earlier this week that the exercises were “endangering peace and stability.”
“We don’t look for conflict, but we won’t shy away from any. We have the necessary confidence to safeguard our national security,” the ministry wrote in the social media platform.
In his inauguration speech, Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan “is a sovereign and independent nation, whose sovereignty is in the hands of the people”.
“The future of cross-strait relations will have a decisive impact on the world,” he added. “This means that we, who inherited a democratic Taiwan, are pilots of peace. Our government will uphold the Four Commitments, will not compromise or provoke, and will maintain the status quo.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
