The U.S. State Department warned on Thursday that China’s “Justice Mission 2025” military exercises, which were conducted this week around Taiwan, “unnecessarily” caused tensions to increase in the region. President Donald Trump’s administration also urged China to stop using its military to “pressure” Taiwan and to instead pursue “meaningful dialogue.”
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army confirmed on Monday that the military was conducting its “Justice Mission 2025” military exercises around Taiwan, which China claims is part of its territory. Citing Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Fox News reported that this week’s military exercises around Taiwan involved 89 Chinese military aircraft, 14 coast guard vessels, and 14 naval vessels.
In a Thursday statement condemning China’s latest military exercises around Taiwan, Thomas Pigott, the principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, said, “China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily.”
“We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue,” Pigott added. “The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion.”
READ MORE: China holds largest ever military exercises around Taiwan
Asked about China’s military exercises around Taiwan during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, President Donald Trump suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be invading Taiwan despite widespread speculation.
“I have a great relationship with President Xi, and he hasn’t told me anything about it. I certainly have seen it, but he hasn’t told me anything about it,” Trump said. “I don’t believe he’s going to be doing it.”
“They’ve been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area,” Trump added. “Now people take it a little bit differently.”