The U.S. State Department on Saturday condemned China’s military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan as provocative, saying that the United States is “deeply concerned” while “strongly” urging Beijing to act with restraint.
“Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes longstanding norms that for decades have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the State Department said in a statement on May 25.
The department added that it’s monitoring China’s activities “closely and coordinating with allies and partners regarding our shared concerns.”
The statement comes after China ended two days of war games around Taiwan in which it simulated attacks with bombers and practiced boarding ships.
Taiwan, which is viewed by China as a breakaway province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland, on Saturday condemned the military drills as “blatant provocation.”
The drills, dubbed “Joint Sword-2024A,” were launched by the Chinese military three days after Lai Ching-te became Taiwan’s president, a man Beijing calls a “separatist.”
Chinese officials have said the exercises were “punishment” for President Lai’s inauguration speech, in which he said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were “not subordinate to each other,” which China viewed as a declaration the two are separate countries.
The United States ended formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979 and switched recognition to Beijing under the “One China” policy. However, Washington has maintained a robust unofficial relationship with Taipei and has pledged to provide it with the arms necessary to defend itself.
“The United States remains committed to its longstanding one China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances,” the State Department said in its Saturday statement.
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