US calls on China to stop escalating pressure on Taiwan

A U.S. official urged Beijing to halt its pressure campaign against Taiwan, warning that China is increasingly relying on "grey zone" tactics as an alternative to direct military conflict. The comments followed Taiwan’s Coast Guard expelling five Chinese vessels from restricted waters near the island, incidents linked to disputes over maritime boundaries between Japan and the Philippines east of Taiwan.

The State Department spokesperson said Washington supports Japan and the Philippines in peacefully resolving maritime disputes and called on China to stop using military, diplomatic and economic pressure, urging dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected government. Analyst Craig Singleton noted China’s use of ambiguous "administrative law‑enforcement actions" to mask activities that undermine regional stability, and highlighted a broader grey‑zone campaign that now includes airspace intrusions, cyber‑attacks on critical infrastructure and disinformation aimed at weakening Taiwan’s societal resilience ahead of its 2028 presidential election.