State Department Indicates Possibility of Military Intervention in Case of Emergency
The U.S. government expressed concern on the 23rd (local time) over China’s commencement of military exercises encircling Taiwan, criticizing China’s dissatisfaction with the inauguration of Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, and urged restraint in its actions.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated, "China’s actions risk escalating tensions and undermine long-standing norms that have maintained peace and stability in the region for decades."
The spokesperson added, "We are closely monitoring the joint military exercises conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army around the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan itself, in close coordination with Taiwan. We emphasize that China should not use Taiwan’s political transition?a normal and routine democratic process?as a pretext or excuse for provocative or coercive measures."
The possibility of military intervention in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan was not ruled out. The spokesperson stressed, "We firmly rely on our current military posture and operations in the region to ensure peace and stability and to fulfill our national security commitments."
After President Lai Ching-te stated a position maintaining the status quo, including sovereignty, regarding cross-strait (China and Taiwan) relations in his inauguration speech on the 20th, China strongly opposed, accusing Taiwan of asserting independence. On the 23rd, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army announced via its official WeChat channel that it would conduct joint military exercises over two days involving army, navy, air force, and rocket force units in the Taiwan Strait, northern, southern, and eastern Taiwan, as well as Kinmen Island and Matsu Islands.
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