The US State Department expressed the United States' deep concern about Chinese military maneuvers near Taiwan, noting that Washington is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with its partners.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said: “The United States is deeply concerned about the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. We are closely monitoring the activities of the People’s Republic of China and coordinating with allies and partners on our shared concerns.”
Miller stressed that "the United States remains committed to the one-China principle in light of the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint statements [between the United States and China] and the six guarantees [to Taiwan]."
The United States called on China to exercise restraint and not use Taiwan's "democratic transition" as a pretext for "military provocations." According to Miller, such actions by the People's Republic of China are fraught with the risk of escalation and undermining "established norms that have allowed for decades to maintain peace and stability." in the Taiwan Strait.
On Thursday morning, the Eastern Combat Command District of the Chinese People's Liberation Army began two-day joint military exercises around Taiwan involving land, sea, air and missile forces to test the level of combat readiness of the forces.
The People's Liberation Army's maneuvers began three days after the island's new president, Lai Qingde, took office. The latter is expected to continue his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen's efforts for the independence of the island.
Beijing has repeatedly said that Taiwan's independence is incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and that Taiwan is "an inseparable part of China's territory, and Taiwan's affairs are China's internal affairs."
The situation around Taiwan escalated significantly after a visit conducted in early August 2022 by Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the US House of Representatives. China condemned Pelosi's visit as American support for Taiwanese separatism and conducted large-scale military exercises.
It is highly concerning.
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