U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China against encroaching on Taiwan, and blamed secrecy by the government in Beijing for helping to hasten the spread of COVID-19.
In an interview with NBC News, Blinken voiced concern about tension fomented by Chinese "aggressive actions” in the Taiwan Strait and said the U.S. stands by its commitments to ensure the island’s self-defense.
"It would be a serious mistake for anyone to try to change the existing status quo by force,” Blinken said on "Meet the Press” on Sunday, adding that he wouldn’t speculate about possible U.S. responses.