MANILA, Philippines - The United States Department urged China to exercise restraint and cease its military pressure against Taiwan, according to a statement released on Thursday, 1 January 2025.
According to the State Department, China's military activities and "rhetoric" toward Taiwan and others in the region unnecessarily increases the tension in the region.
The United States also believe that instead of launching military exercises near Taiwan, China should engage in "meaningful dialogue".
"China’s military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. We urge Beijing to exercise restraint, cease its military pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue," the State Department said.
"The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion," the statement added.
China has deployed troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery near Taiwan on Monday (29 Dec. 2025) for its miltiary exercises dubbed "Justice Mission 2025".
Meanwhile, there are approximately 160,000 Filipinos living and working in Taiwan, according to the Manila Economic and Cultural Offiice (MECO) in Taipei.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that it has already set-up contingency measures in case tensions in the Taiwan Strait escalate.
This is the assurance DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro gave Senators during a senate hearing last August 2025.
She clarified that the Philippines acknowledges the "One Chine Policy", with the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the "sole legal government of China" and that Taiwan is a part of China, governed by the PRC.
Lazaro expressed hopes that China and Taiwan will be able to resolve its straits issues.
