The US State Department urged China to refrain from using coercion as a tactic in its dealings with Taiwan on Thursday. That comes after a Chinese aircraft carrier passed through the Taiwan Strait earlier that day.
Washington said that Beijing should not to engage in activities that would jeopardize the security, social, or economic systems of Taiwan. A US official said that Taiwan is a reliable partner, a democratic model, and a force for good in the world. The official said that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are of interest to the US. The official called for constructive dialogue between Beijing and Taipei.
According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, this was the sixth transit through the Taiwan Strait made by a Chinese aircraft carrier since 2017. The maneuver comes during a sensitive time – with just over two weeks left until Taiwan’s next presidential and legislative elections on January 11.