TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Tuesday condemned China's military exercises around Taiwan, while US President Donald Trump stressed the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Bruce told CNA that the US is closely monitoring China's military activities near Taiwan. The spokesperson said Beijing's actions "exacerbate tensions and undermine cross-strait peace and stability."

The spokesperson added, “And once again, China has shown that it is not a responsible actor and has no problem putting the region's security and prosperity at risk.” In a press release, Bruce said the US will continue to support allies and partners including Taiwan in the face of “China’s intimidation tactics and destabilizing behavior.”

In the afternoon, the office of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CNA that China's reckless military exercises around Taiwan not only increase the risk of miscalculation, but could trigger a crisis and threaten global security.

Shaheen said that Taiwan is a close, reliable, and indispensable partner of the US in areas such as global health and advanced manufacturing. She said that whenever a partner faces coercion, the US must stand firmly in supporting them. 

Also on Tuesday, White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt responded to a question about China's military drills around Taiwan by saying that the National Security Council briefed her on the matter that morning, per ABC News. She said that Trump is “emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, encouraging the peaceful resolution of these cross-strait issues, reiterating our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion."