White House issues warning to China for war games near Taiwan

The Trump administration on Tuesday issued a warning to China after Beijing announced large-scale war games in the waters and airspace around Taiwan.

The joint military drills, which were launched with no prior notice and included China's army, navy and air and rocket forces, were meant as a "severe warning and forceful containment against Taiwan independence," according to a spokesperson for China's People's Liberation Army.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said the National Security Council had briefed her on the exercises and that President Trump "is emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, encouraging the peaceful resolution of these cross-strait issues, [and] reiterating our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion."

China views Taiwan as its own sovereign territory and has frequently threatened to take the independently governed island by force.

The U.S., however, views the island as a strategic partner, selling it billions of dollars in weapons and equipment. Washington also must treat threats to Taipei with "grave concern," according to U.S. law.

So far under the Trump administration, U.S. officials have maintained diplomatic support for Taiwan, with the president and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in February issuing a joint statement opposing any attempt to alter the current situation in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion. 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also traveled to the region last week to meet with counterparts in Japan and the Philippines. While there, he vowed to enhance the U.S. military alliance with the two countries to counter "China's aggression."

In addition, the State Department has removed language on its website that does not support Taipei's independence. 

But China, displeased with these developments, has held a series of major drills, including last month's large-scale exercises involving drones and ships near the island.

With Beijing's most recent war game, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it had tracked 71 Chinese aircraft and 21 warships, with an aircraft carrier battle group entering Taiwan's air defense identification zone.

"China's blatant military provocations not only threaten peace in the #Taiwan Strait but also undermine security in the entire region, as evidenced by drills near Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the Philippines & the [South China Sea]," Taiwan's Presidential Office said in post to the social platform X. "We strongly condemn China's escalatory behavior."