Trump Administration Issues First Statement After China's Taiwan Encirclement Drills
The U.S. government has called on China to exercise restraint, halt its military pressure on Taiwan, and engage in meaningful dialogue in response to China's "Taiwan encirclement drills."
Donald Trump, President of the United States (left), and Xi Jinping, President of China. Photo by Xinhua News Agency
On January 1 (local time), the U.S. State Department issued a statement through Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, saying, "China's military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and other countries in the region are unnecessarily heightening tensions." The statement continued, "The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo by force or coercion."
This marks the first time that the Donald Trump administration has issued an official position regarding China's recent encirclement drills around Taiwan.
From December 29 to 31, the People's Liberation Army of China conducted live-fire drills involving ground, naval, air, and rocket forces, effectively encircling Taiwan. Analysts believe this was intended both to express dissatisfaction with the recent U.S. approval of a record $11.1054 billion arms sale to Taiwan, and to send a warning message simultaneously to both the United States and Taiwan.
On December 29, when President Trump was asked about the Chinese military's encirclement drills around Taiwan, he replied, "Nothing worries me," adding, "China has been conducting maritime exercises in that region for 20 years."
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