Chinese war games​ around Taiwan "unnecessarily" spiked tensions in the region, the U.S. State Department said, calling on Beijing to "cease its military pressure."

TAIPEI – Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te vowed on Jan 1 to defend the democratic island’s sovereignty in a New Year’s speech, after China carried out military drills.

Beijing had expressed anger at a planned U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, as well as at Japan’s new leader’s comments that Tokyo could intervene in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.