Taipei (TIP)- The United States urged China to cease military pressure on Taiwan on Jan 1, 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.”
The State Department’s criticism was the first public response by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to this week’s Chinese military exercises.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung welcomed the U.S. government’s statement, saying that Taipei “will continue to work with the United States and all like-minded nations to defend the rules-based international order.”
But under Trump, Washington — which is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties — has taken a softer approach to Chinese pressure on the island than its predecessors, as the White House looks to avoid friction with Beijing in a bid to seal a broad trade deal with the Asian powerhouse.
Trump, who is scheduled to make a state visit to the Chinese capital in April for talks with leader Xi Jinping, on Monday downplayed the exercises and the possibility of Xi ordering an invasion of Taiwan.
Beijing views the self-ruled island as its “core of core issues” and regards it as a renegade province that must be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
“I have a great relationship with President Xi. And he hasn’t told me anything about it. I certainly have seen it,” Trump said when asked about the exercises. “I don’t believe he’s going to be doing it,” Trump said in apparent reference to a Chinese invasion of the island.
Asked if the exercises concerned him, he replied, “No, nothing worries me.”
“They’ve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area,” he added. “Now people take it a little bit differently.”
Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Tokyo had presented its concerns to the Chinese side over the drills, which it said “constitute actions that increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait.” Japan, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, New Zealand and the European Union all voiced concern over the exercises before the U.S. On Friday, China called the exercises “completely legitimate, necessary and beyond reproach.”
“No one cherishes peace across the Taiwan Strait more than we do, yet we will never allow any individual or force to tie our hands in curbing ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities in the name of safeguarding cross-Strait peace,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said in a New Year’s speech Thursday in Taipei that the island is determined to defend its sovereignty and pledged to boost its defenses — something the Trump administration has demanded — in response to China’s growing pressure.
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
Usually I don’t learn post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very compelled me to try and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, quite great post.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & aid different customers like its aided me. Great job.
I’d forever want to be update on new articles on this web site, saved to favorites! .
You could certainly see your expertise in the paintings you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. All the time follow your heart.
Spot on with this write-up, I really assume this website needs much more consideration. I’ll most likely be again to learn way more, thanks for that info.
Good website! I truly love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I could be notified when a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your RSS feed which must do the trick! Have a great day!
Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website. I’m hoping the same high-grade web site post from you in the upcoming also. In fact your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own site now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a great example of it.