The European Union has been critical of China's expansive maneuvers near the democratic enclave of Taiwan. Speaking on Thursday, the spokesperson for EU's foreign affairs representative, Josep Borrell, said the EU is concerned about China's military activities in the vicinity of Taiwan, given increased tensions in the cross-strait region, which refers to the narrow stretch of water separating Taiwan from mainland China.
The EU put primary importance on maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for regional and global security and prosperity and urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could increase tensions across the strait, pressing that disputes need to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
China on Thursday morning started a large-scale military exercise near Taiwan, whereby Beijing's Communist leadership would like to tell Taiwan's newly-inaugurated President Lai Ching-te, representing the DPP, not to move toward formal independence from China.
Taiwan has been self-governing since 1949, although China claims sovereignty over the island, describing it as part of its territory. The tensions between the parties constitute geopolitical complexity.
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