US expresses concern over China's military exercises
The US Department of State has announced that it is deeply concerned about the joint military exercises China is conducting around Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait.
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US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller issued a written statement regarding the military exercises conducted by China.
Stating that the US is closely monitoring China's activities, Miller expressed that they are in close coordination with allies regarding "shared concerns."
Miller sent the message, "We strongly urge Beijing to act with restraint," and warned that using a "routine democratic transition" as a pretext for military provocations would increase tensions.
Underlining that the US remains committed to its "One China Policy," Miller emphasized that they are deeply concerned about the joint military exercises China is conducting around Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait.
CHINA HAS BLOCKADED THE ISLAND
In a statement made on the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense's X social media account, it was stated that 62 military aircraft had flown around the island in the last 24 hours.
The flights and ship patrols are part of the military exercises China conducted around the island on May 23 and 24.
The Beijing administration had announced that it began military exercises around the island 3 days after Taiwan's new leader Lai Ching-te took office.
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army had reported that the 2-day exercise, named "Joint Sword-2024A," would be carried out around the Taiwan Strait, the northern, southern, and eastern regions of Taiwan Island, and the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin near the mainland.
It was emphasized that the exercise, in which units from the Chinese army's land, air, naval, and rocket forces participated, was aimed at "punishing acts of independence" and "warning against interference by external forces."