"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," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. Beijing launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets, navy ships and coastguard vessels on Monday and Tuesday this week to encircle Taiwan's main island, saying the drills simulated a blockade of main Taiwanese ports. Taipei condemned the exercises as "highly provocative." China claims that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it.

"The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including by force or coercion," Pigott said. US President Donald Trump said Monday he was not concerned about China's live-fire drills, appearing to brush aside the possibility of counterpart Xi Jinping ordering an invasion.

"I have a great relationship with President Xi. And he hasn't told me anything about it. I certainly have seen it," Trump told reporters when asked about the exercises. "I don't believe he's going to be doing it," Trump said in apparent reference to an invasion. "They've been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area. Now people take it a little bit differently." Beijing's show of force came after the Trump administration approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan. (Bssnews)