Washington DC:
China's naval deployment in the East China Sea and South China Sea is at a high level but consistent with other major exercises in the past, a US military official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The assessment contrasted with statements from Taiwan that described the deployment as the largest in nearly three decades.
“The People's Republic of China's military activity has increased in the region, consistent with the levels we have seen during other major exercises,” the official said, using the country's official name: the People's Republic of China.
The Chinese military has not yet commented and has not confirmed whether it is conducting exercises.
China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory over the island's rejection, was expected to launch exercises to express its anger over President Lai Ching-te's Pacific tour that ended Friday, with including stops in Hawaii and the US territory. from Guam.
But the U.S. official did not link the deployment to Lai's travels.
“We do not view the activity in the East China Sea and South China Sea as a response to President Lai's transit,” the official said.
“This activity is part of a broader increase in the PLA's military posture and exercises in recent years. These activities are destabilizing and risk escalation.”
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