Taipei: Lithuania, Australia, and New Zealand on Wednesday joined the growing list of countries expressing concerns over China's recent live-fire military exercises around Taiwan, urging restraint to prevent escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Wednesday highlighting that China's military drills "escalate cross-Strait tensions and threaten international peace and security." The ministry emphasized the strategic importance of the Taiwan Strait for both regional and global security, urging all parties to refrain from actions that could alter the current status quo. The statement also called for addressing bilateral differences through peaceful dialogue in line with international law.
The Baltic state joins several other countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, alongside the European Union, in expressing concern over the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) live-fire exercises conducted earlier this week.
On the same day, Australia and New Zealand also issued statements addressing the issue. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade expressed strong opposition to any actions that could increase the risk of accidents, miscalculations, or escalation. Australian officials have communicated their concerns to Chinese counterparts regarding the matter.
Similarly, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade posted on X, advocating for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues through de-escalation and dialogue, while avoiding actions that could undermine peace and stability.
In response, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed gratitude to Taiwan's global partners for voicing their concerns. Lin thanked Lithuania and other like-minded countries for supporting peace and security in the Taiwan Strait and for clearly articulating their stance on maintaining a stable status quo. Taiwan's ministry acknowledged the close attention many countries are paying to the evolving situation in the Taiwan Strait.
The PLA conducted a large-scale military exercise named "Justice Mission-2025" from Monday to Wednesday in five maritime zones and the airspace around Taiwan. The exercise was described as a "stern warning to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces." Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported that on Tuesday, the PLA fired 27 artillery rockets, with 10 landing within Taiwan's 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone, marking the closest proximity since China began conducting live-fire drills near Taiwan in recent years.
