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Chinese war games around Taiwan have “unnecessarily” exacerbated tensions in the region, the US State Department said, calling on Beijing to “cease its military pressure”.
“China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and other countries in the region are unnecessarily increasing tensions,” Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, said in a statement Thursday. “We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue.”
“The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion,” he added.
China says democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it.
On Monday and Tuesday, Beijing launched missiles and deployed dozens of warplanes, navy and coast guard ships to encircle the main island of Taiwan, saying the exercises – dubbed “Mission Justice 2025” – simulated a blockade of Taiwan’s main ports.
Taipei condemned the exercises as “highly provocative.”
ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images 
President Trump said Monday he was not concerned about the exercises, appearing to rule out the possibility that his counterpart Xi Jinping would order an invasion.
“I have a great relationship with President Xi. And he hasn’t said anything to me about it. I’ve certainly seen it,” Mr. Trump told reporters when asked about the exercises.
“I don’t believe he’s going to do it,” he said, apparently referring to an invasion.
“They’ve been holding naval exercises in this region for 20 years. Today, people perceive things a little differently,” the president said.
The United States has been committed to Taiwan’s self-defense for decades, while remaining ambiguous about whether the U.S. military itself would intervene in the event of an invasion. Beijing’s show of force came after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms program for Taiwan.
The latest Chinese military exercise was the sixth round of major maneuvers since 2022, when a visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, angered Beijing.
