U.S. Urges China to Halt Military Drills Near Taiwan

The U.S. State Department condemned recent Chinese military drills near Taiwan, stating these activities “unnecessarily” heighten tensions in the region. Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott urged Beijing to “cease its military pressure” and engage in meaningful dialogue instead. The statement, issued on Thursday, reflects ongoing concerns about China’s aggressive stance toward Taiwan.

According to Pigott, “China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily.” He emphasized that the United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, particularly those enforced by force or coercion.

China regards the democratic island of Taiwan as a part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of military force to achieve reunification. In a show of strength, Beijing conducted military drills on Monday and Tuesday, launching missiles and deploying dozens of fighter jets, navy ships, and coastguard vessels to encircle Taiwan’s main island. The exercises, named “Justice Mission 2025,” were said to simulate a blockade of key Taiwanese ports, prompting a strong response from Taipei, which labeled the maneuvers as “highly provocative.”

In response to inquiries about the drills, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared unconcerned, suggesting that he maintains a positive relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I have a great relationship with President Xi. And he hasn’t told me anything about it,” Trump told reporters. He downplayed the likelihood of an invasion, stating, “I don’t believe he’s going to be doing it,” referring to the military exercises as routine. “They’ve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area. Now people take it a little bit differently,” he remarked.

The United States has committed to ensuring Taiwan’s self-defense for decades, maintaining a strategic ambiguity regarding the extent of military intervention in the event of an invasion. This latest show of force from Beijing follows the Trump administration’s approval of a substantial $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, which has further strained relations between the two nations.

China’s recent military exercise marks the sixth significant round of drills since 2022, a year that saw heightened tensions following a visit to Taiwan by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, the international community watches closely for further developments in the region.