TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The UK called for China to exercise restraint on Monday (Oct. 14) after it held large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. 

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced on Monday at 5 a.m. that it would hold the “Joint Sword-2024B” military exercises around Taiwan. In response, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued a statement seeking to de-escalate the situation after Beijing's military actions. 

In the statement, the FCDO expressed its concern about the PLA drills around Taiwan and warned they “increase tensions and risk dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait.” The office reiterated the UK's policy of supporting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which it said is “of critical importance to global prosperity.” 

The office called for the resolution of disputes between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait through dialogue, “without the threat or use of force or coercion.” The FCDO stressed the UK does not support unilateral attempts to alter the status quo in the strait. 

The statement closed with a call for “restraint and the avoidance of any further actions that may undermine peace and stability.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked the UK government for continuing to closely monitor the situation in the Taiwan Strait and for “clearly stating the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait to the world.” The ministry said Taiwan is a responsible member of the international community and will continue to work with like-minded partners to “defend the rules-based international order.”

It also expressed hope that democratic countries around the world will “unite in calling on China to return to rationality and restraint, and stop threatening Taiwan and unilaterally escalating regional tensions.”