US is “deeply concerned” about China's military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan

The US State Department's statement comes after China began a two-day military exercise on Thursday and Friday (May 23-24) involving land, sea, air and rocket forces, reports Taiwan News. China began the exercise on May 20, days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's president.

“The United States is deeply concerned by the People's Liberation Army's joint military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait. We are closely monitoring the PRC's activities and coordinating with allies and partners about our shared concerns,” Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Miller said using normal, regular and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocation risks destroying long-standing norms that have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for years.

A US State Department spokesperson said, “The United States is deeply concerned by the People's Liberation Army's joint military exercises in and around the Taiwan Strait. We are closely monitoring the PRC's activities and coordinating with allies and partners about our shared concerns.”

“We urge Beijing to exercise restraint. Using a normal, regular, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocation risks escalating tensions and undermining long-standing norms that have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for decades, which is vital to regional and global security and prosperity and a matter of international concern,” he said.

Matthew Miller said the US remains committed to its long-standing One China policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances.

The exercises in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent areas of Taiwan-controlled islands off the coast of China began just days after Lai took office.

Days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's president, China on Thursday launched a two-day military exercise that it said was “punishment” for the country's alleged “separatist acts,” reports CMNN.

As part of the exercise, dozens of Chinese warplanes carrying live ammunition carried out simulated attacks against “high-value military targets” of the “enemy” along with destroyers, frigates and missile speedboats, according to China's state broadcaster CCTV.

Despite never having control of Taiwan, China's ruling Communist Party claims it as part of its territory and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary. China said it began joint military exercises involving the army, navy, air force and rocket forces in areas around Taiwan at 7.45 am (local time) on Thursday.

The exercises are taking place in the Taiwan Strait, a narrow stretch of water that separates the island from mainland China, as well as to the north, south and east of Taiwan, reports CNN. They are also taking place near Taiwan's outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, which lie just off China's southeastern coast, according to a statement from the PLA's Eastern Theater Command.

According to CNN, PLA Navy Colonel Li Xi, a spokesman for the command, described the exercise as “a harsh punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a solemn warning against interference and provocation by external forces.”

In retaliation, Taiwan has also deployed its warships to monitor the situation. According to CNN report, Beijing considers Taiwan's Lai a “dangerous separatist” as he supports the island's sovereignty and unique identity. He replaced two-time President Tsai Ing-wen, giving the Democratic Progressive Party an unprecedented third consecutive term in power.

Beijing criticised Lai's inaugural address, in which he urged China to stop intimidating Taiwan. In his inaugural address after being sworn in as Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te called on Beijing to stop intimidating the island nation, which China still claims.

In his inaugural address, Lai called on Beijing to “stop its political and military intimidation against Taiwan, share global responsibility with Taiwan to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as the larger region, and ensure that the world is free from the fear of war.”

Former physician and Vice President Lai was sworn in alongside newly appointed Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who recently served as Taiwan's chief ambassador to the United States.

Beijing has publicly criticised both leaders and their party for refusing to defend Taiwan's sovereignty. Despite never ruling the island, China's ruling Communist Party claims it is its territory and has threatened to annex the island by force if necessary.