White House on China-Taiwan: US seeks peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues

Washington has reaffirmed its opposition to any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing on April 1.

Leavitt made the remarks in response to questions regarding China's latest military exercises around Taiwan, which Beijing has described as a "stern warning" to separatist forces. She emphasized President Donald Trump’s commitment to maintaining peace in the region and encouraging a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“As a matter of fact, the National Security Council briefed me on this, this morning, and they said that the President is emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, encouraging the peaceful resolution of these cross-strait issues, reiterating our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. That is directly from the National Security,” Leavitt said.

Her comments follow China's announcement of joint military exercises involving its army, navy, air force, and rocket force around Taiwan. According to the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, the drills are intended to “close in” on Taiwan from multiple directions, focusing on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of strategic advantages, assaults on maritime and ground targets, and blockade exercises.

“It is a stern warning and forceful deterrence against ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity,” the PLA statement read.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense condemned the military exercises, labeling them an irrational provocation that undermines regional peace. “We strongly condemn the PRC's irrational provocations. We firmly oppose PLA's actions that undermine regional peace. Standing guard at the forefront of freedom and democracy, we remain steadfast in defending our territorial sovereignty,” the ministry said in a post on X.

The latest military drills come just days after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to counter “China’s aggression” during his first visit to Asia. Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have been escalating, particularly after Taipei detained a cargo ship crewed by Chinese nationals in February, accusing it of cutting an undersea internet cable in the second such incident in recent months.

By Khagan Isayev