TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The U.S. Department of State on Tuesday (March. 5) urged Beijing to cease its provocative actions in the Taiwan Strait and to open meaningful dialogues with Taiwan.
The call came after comments made last week by Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, who refuted the existence of the so-called 'median line' in the Strait and reiterated China's claim to Taiwan.
An unnamed State Department official indicated they noticed Zhang's remarks.
The U.S. official noted their position on restraining and maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and wider Asia-Pacific region for peace and stability, citing it as a global concern.
The U.S. official underscored that Beijing's ongoing belligerent actions in the Taiwan Strait signal its attempt to alter the status quo unilaterally.
"We urge Beijing to stop putting military, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Taiwan, and engage meaningful dialogues instead," the U.S. official said.