US State Department Says ‘Sufficient Resources’ in Place as China Simulates Striking Taiwan

The United States State Department has affirmed that it has the necessary resources and capabilities to ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as China staged war games around Taiwan for the third consecutive day. A State Department spokesperson said, “We are comfortable and confident that we have in place sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability and to meet our national security commitments.”

While urging for restraint, the US has kept communication channels open with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The State Department spokesperson said that the department is closely monitoring the CCP’s actions.

Taiwan’s military detected approximately 70 Chinese aircraft and 11 naval vessels around the island on Monday, on the third day of China’s military exercises. The Defense Ministry released a statement saying that Taiwan responded by deploying aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based air defense missile systems to monitor the Chinese military’s activities. The ministry also stated that the Taiwanese armed forces implemented readiness drills to keep high alert for any Chinese military incursion. Nevertheless, Taiwan emphasized that it would not seek to escalate conflicts or cause disputes.

The CCP’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, announced that it would stage military drills in the Taiwan Strait and the north, south, and east of Taiwan from April 8 to 10 in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California. The CCP sent 42 aircraft and eight ships near Taiwan on Saturday and 71 aircraft and 9 ships on Sunday while simulating precision strikes against the self-ruled democratic island. The Chinese state television reported, “Under the unified command of the theatre joint operations command centre, multiple types of units carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas, and continue to maintain an offensive posture around the island.”

McCarthy reacted to Beijing’s military drills, saying, “I am the Speaker of the House. There is no place that China is going to tell me where I can go or whom I can speak to.”

Beijing previously staged war games around Taiwan following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) visit to the island in August 2022 and restricted military-to-military communication with Washington.

US Official Urges the Supply of Weapons and Troops as CCP Stages Blockade

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told Fox News on April 9 that with China staging a blockade, the US should send weapons to Taiwan and send troops to the region. “Our next military conflict could be with China over Taiwan. I’m sorry, I do not trust the Chinese,” Graham added.