BEIJING – The Chinese military said Wednesday that it recently held an exercise around Taiwan as a “solemn warning” against its “collusion” with the United States, Chinese state media reported.
US President Joe Biden angered China on Monday by appearing to signal a change in US policy of “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan, saying his country would get involved militarily if China attacked the island.
However, on Tuesday Biden said there is no change in US policy in this regard.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command said it recently carried out a patrol and drill in the airspace and sea around Taiwan.
“This is a solemn warning against the recent collusion between the United States and Taiwan,” command spokesman Shi Yi said, according to Chinese state television.
“It is hypocritical and useless for the United States to say one thing and do another on the Taiwan issue,” he added.
China has never renounced the use of force to bring democratically-ruled Taiwan under its control, and the Taiwan Strait remains a potential point of military conflict.
Although the United States abides by a “one China” policy, which recognizes only Beijing, it has committed, under its Taiwan Relations Act, to “help provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.”
Despite this, it has long maintained a policy of not specifying how it might react in the event of a Chinese attack on the island.