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US urges China to halt military pressure on Taiwan after drills
The United States government has condemned China's live-fire drills around Taiwan, stating that these military activities "increase tensions unnecessarily."
A spokesperson for the US Department of State urged Beijing to exercise restraint, cease military pressure against Taiwan, and engage in meaningful dialogue.
China conducted live-fire drills around Taiwan on December 29 and 30, simulating a blockade and assaults on maritime targets, which it declared "successfully completed."
These maneuvers are the sixth major military exercise Beijing has held near Taiwan in recent years, a region China claims as its territory.
The drills followed Taipei's announcement of an $11 billion arms sale approval from the US, Taiwan's main security partner.
The Philippines, Japan, and Australia also condemned the exercises, with the Philippines' Department of National Defense describing Beijing's drills as a "heightened scale of coercion" that affected the entire Indo-Pacific region.
The US Department of State affirmed its support for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and opposed any unilateral changes to the status quo through force or coercion.
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China's military drills surrounding Taiwan, codenamed "Justice Mission 2025," have successfully concluded after two days of simulated blockade and assaults on key ports and maritime targets.
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Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. expressed deep concern over China's massive military drills near Taiwan, warning that they undermine regional peace and stability.
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