China's War Training Triggers Tensions, US Promises To Maintain Peace In Taiwan Strait

JAKARTA - The United States on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining "peace and stability" in the Taiwan Strait and opposed "every unilateral change in status quo," including by using "force".

"Again, China's aggressive military and rhetoric towards Taiwan will only add to tensions and jeopardize the security of the region and the prosperity of the world," US State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce said in a statement quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, April 2.

The statement came after China held joint military exercises involving the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces around Taiwan, described by the East Palagan Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) as a "hard warning" to Taiwan's pro-independence forces.

"In the face of China's intimidation and destabilizing behavior, the US's eternal commitment to our allies and partners, including Taiwan, continues," Bruce said.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said 71 aircraft and 21 Chinese Navy ships participated in the exercise.

The ALPLA ships, led by the Shandong carrier, entered Taiwan's response zone.

The ministry denounced the exercise by calling it an "inrational provocation" and pledging to defend Taiwan's sovereignty.