ROME: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Chinese counterpart on Sunday that the United States opposed actions by China that have increased tensions across the Taiwan Strait, a senior State Department official said. A recent increase in Chinese military exercises in Taiwan's air defence identification zone are part of what Taipei views as stepped-up military harassment by Beijing. China claims the island as part of its own territory and views any foreign intervention on Taiwan as interference in its domestic affairs. While the United States, like most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan, Washington is the island's most important international backer and main arms supplier, and is required by law to provide it with the means to defend itself. Blinken made clear that Washington had not changed its "one China" policy regarding Taiwan, the official said.

Source: Bangkok Post October 31, 2021 12:32 UTC