US says Chinese military drills around Taiwan cause unnecessary tensions

Following a number of war games revolving around Taiwan that resemble a blockade of the island, the United States has called on China to exercise “restraint” and refrain from actions that cause tension.

In a statement released on Thursday, the US Department of State claimed that Taipei’s harsh criticism of China’s bellicose language and military exercises was a cause for unnecessary strain.

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“Tennessee relations between China and Taiwan and other countries in the region are unnecessarily aggravated by its military activities and rhetoric.” We call on Beijing to restrain itself, put its military might on Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue, according to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

The United States supports stability and peace along Taiwan Strait, he continued, and it opposes unilateral revisions, including through coercion or force.

In a simulation of military operations earlier this week, China fired missiles, deployed jets, and naval vessels to encircle Taiwan, which Beijing claims to be an integral part of its territory and has vowed to encircle.

Few disturbances have occurred on the self-governing island, whose status the US has not yet officially stated.

However, Taiwanese officials have criticized Beijing’s assertive stance, and crackdowns on previously independent regions like Hong Kong following its integration with China have raised questions about the possibility of Beijing rejoining.

President William Lai Ching-te said on Thursday, “My stance has always been clear: to resolutely defend national sovereignty and strengthen national defense.”

Taiwan’s legislature, where the opposition party currently controls the majority, has stalled the proposal, which Lai has called for.

The president said Taiwan will make “plans for the worst, but hope for the best,” adding that “the coming year, 2026, will be crucial.”

While US lawmakers frequently express their support for Taiwan, the island’s policy has been ambiguous for decades and does not include a promise of military support in the event of a Chinese invasion.

President Donald Trump stated earlier this week that he did not believe China had any plans to launch an invasion of Taiwan in the near future despite the US’s recent approval of a $11 billion arms package for Taiwan.

I have a wonderful relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. And he hasn’t gotten back to me. Trump made a statement to reporters on Monday, “I have certainly seen it”.