U.S. urges China to halt military pressure on Taiwan, days after Japan and others

The United States urged China to cease military pressure on Taiwan on Thursday, days after Japan and Western countries voiced concern over escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait following two days of large-scale military exercises around the democratic island.

“China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily,” State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott said in a statement. “We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue.”

The United States, Pigott added, “supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion.”