Political status of Taiwan

These measures were taken to "warn the United States", according to a statement from the Combat Command of the Eastern Zone of the People's Liberation Army of China.

In a joint statement today, Russia and China called on NATO to stop expanding, and Moscow said it fully supported Beijing on the Taiwan issue and opposed the idea of ​​Taiwan's independence in any form, Reuters reported.

The US have stepped up exercises in the region as China presses its territorial claims over the South China Sea with Beijing also ramping up pressure on Taiwan

However, at the beginning of the month, an unnamed American official confirmed the news to Agency France-Presse, specifying that it was only about twenty American members of the special forces who were training smaller units of the Taiwanese Army and Navy.

It thus confirmed the presence of American troops on the island, which China considers its territory.

China has never ruled out the possibility of invading Taiwan

The United States would defend Taiwan if the island were attacked by China, President Joe Biden said on Oct. 21, a declaration welcomed by the democratic island that risks fury from Beijing.

Authoritarian China regards self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize the island, by force if needed.

Chinese military exercises near Taiwan are targeted at forces promoting the island's formal independence and are a "just" move to protect peace and stability, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Oct. 13.

It also said the exercises are aimed at interference by external forces.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping said on Oct. 9 reunification with Taiwan must happen and will happen peacefully, despite a ratcheting-up of China's threats to attack the island.

Xi spoke on at an official celebration in Beijing's Great Hall of the People the focused largely on the need for the ruling Communist Party to continue to lead China as the country rises in power and influence.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Oct. 5 that he has spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Taiwan and they agreed to abide by the Taiwan agreement, as tensions have ratcheted up between Taipei and Beijing.