The United States has issued a strong statement criticising China's recent military exercises around Taiwan, calling them an unnecessary escalation of tensions in the vital Taiwan Strait. The US State Department publicly urged Beijing to exercise restraint and halt its military pressure campaign against the self-governed island.
US Calls for Dialogue, Warns Against Force
In a press statement on Thursday, the US State Department made its position clear. "China's military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily," the department said. It explicitly called on Beijing to "exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue." Reiterating a long-standing policy, the US affirmed its support for peace and stability across the strait and opposition to any unilateral changes to the status quo, particularly through force or coercion.
Details of China's 'Justice Mission-2025' Drills
This diplomatic reaction follows the conclusion of a significant two-day live-fire military exercise conducted by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) around Taiwan. The drills, which wrapped up on December 31, were dubbed "Justice Mission-2025" and involved extensive naval and air deployments across five designated maritime areas and airspace surrounding the island. Chinese authorities described the operations as a "stern warning" to forces advocating for Taiwan's independence.
According to reports from Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, the scale and proximity of the exercises were notable. On the second day of the drills, the PLA launched 27 rockets, with Taiwan's defence officials confirming that 10 of them landed in waters within Taiwan's 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone. This event marked the closest recorded live-fire activity by China near Taiwan's shores. Furthermore, as of 6 am on a subsequent Friday, Taiwan's military had detected 6 PLA Navy vessels and 1 official Chinese ship operating around the island, along with 2 Chinese balloons during the same period.
Broad International Condemnation Follows
The United States was not alone in its concern. A significant coalition of global powers and regional partners voiced serious alarm over the PLA's actions. The European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines all issued statements expressing worry. The European External Action Service emphasised that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are crucial to global security and prosperity. It warned against any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through coercion or military means, echoing the sentiment shared by the other concerned nations.
Taiwan's authorities stated that their armed forces closely monitored the entire situation and took appropriate response measures to ensure the island's security. The widespread international reaction underscores the geopolitical sensitivity of the Taiwan Strait and the global interest in preventing a military conflict that would have far-reaching consequences.
