China Rejects US Claims of Military Pressure on Taiwan

Beijing, April 15—A Chinese government spokesperson dismissed United States accusations of military pressure on Taiwan as distortions driven by malicious intent, emphasizing that the island remains an internal affair beyond foreign interference.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks during a briefing on Wednesday, following a US State Department statement last week that called on Beijing to engage in dialogue with Taiwan and cease its military activities around the island. China regards Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, as part of its territory and has intensified military operations in recent months, including multiple rounds of war games and live-fire drills in late December.

"Certain people on the US side are jumping up and down, continuously rehashing the so-called mainland threat or military pressure," Chen told reporters. "This represented a complete distortion of the facts and harbours malicious intentions." He urged Washington to exercise caution and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, while reiterating demands to end arms sales to Taiwan, Beijing's most significant international supporter despite the absence of formal...