The US said China’s military drills near Taiwan unnecessarily escalated tensions

Beijing fired missiles and mobilized dozens of fighter aircraft, naval vessels, and coast guard ships over Monday and Tuesday.

The US State Department said Thursday that China’s war games around Taiwan have “unnecessarily” escalated tensions in the region and called on Beijing to “cease its military pressure.”

“China’s military activities and rhetoric against Taiwan and other countries in the region are unnecessarily escalating tensions,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement. “We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue.”

Beijing launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets, naval vessels, and coast guard ships on Monday and Tuesday to encircle Taiwan’s main island. It said the drills simulated a blockade of Taiwan’s main ports.

Taipei condemned the exercises as “highly provocative.” China claims that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it.

Piggott said, “The United States supports peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including through coercion or pressure.”

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he was not concerned about China’s live-fire drills, appearing to downplay the possibility of his counterpart Xi Jinping ordering an attack.

When asked about the exercises, Trump told reporters, “I have a very good relationship with President Xi. And he hasn’t told me anything about it. I’ve certainly seen it.”

Referring to the possibility of an attack, Trump said, “I don’t think he’s going to do that.” “They’ve been doing naval exercises in that area for 20 years. Now people are taking it a little differently.”

Beijing’s show of force came after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan.

The US has been committed for decades to ensuring Taiwan’s self-defense, although it remains unclear whether the US military would intervene directly in the event of an attack.

China’s latest military exercise was the sixth major exercise since 2022, when Beijing was angered by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.