EU, UK, Philippines express concern over China's latest drills

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) The European Union and several countries in East Asia, including Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, have voiced concerns over the latest Chinese live-fire military drills held near Taiwan and urged restraint to avoid escalating tensions.

● 90 PLA warplanes cross Taiwan Strait median line as China stages drills

In a statement Tuesday, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic service, charged that China's action "further increases cross-strait tensions and endangers international peace and stability."

"Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of strategic importance for regional and global security and prosperity. We reiterate our calls to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that may further escalate tensions, which should be resolved through cross-strait dialogue," the EEAS statement said.

Some EU members, including Germany and France, issued similar statements through their foreign ministries.

The German federal government called for "restraint and dialogue," adding that "any change to the status quo must occur only peacefully and by mutual agreement."

France expressed concern about "the scale of Chinese military exercises near Taiwan and urged all sides to refrain from escalation in order to preserve peace and stability in the region."

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, via its Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, said it did not support "any unilateral attempts to change the status quo or any activity that risks destabilising it."

Japan, South Korea and the Philippines issued similar responses.

Japan's Kyodo News reported that Tokyo told Beijing on Monday that it expected issues related to Taiwan to be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

South Korea called on Tuesday for "peace and stability" to prevail in the Taiwan Strait.

Foreign ministry spokesman Park Il said Seoul hoped "cross-strait relations will develop peacefully through dialogue and cooperation".

Meanwhile, the Philippines top envoy to Taiwan, Corazon A. Padiernos, said in a statement Tuesday that Manila was watching the drills around Taiwan and stood ready to assist Filipinos in Taiwan as needed and advised them to remain calm.

"Developments that raise the risk of tension, miscalculation, or conflict in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region are deeply worrying, particularly given their potential impact on regional stability, trade routes, and the safety and livelihood of the many Filipinos residing and working in Taiwan," it said.

"We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid escalatory actions, and keep communication channels open."

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has expressed Taiwan's gratitude to all of its partners around the world for voicing their concerns.

Taiwan's military on Tuesday said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) fired 27 rockets during the second day of its latest military drill near Taiwan, with 10 landing at sea within Taiwan's 24-nautical mile contiguous zone, making it the closest Chinese live-fired armaments have come to Taiwan.