Japan has joined Australia, Britain, France and Germany in conveying concern over escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait following two days of large-scale Chinese military exercises around the democratic island.

Japan¡¯s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Tokyo had presented its concerns to the Chinese side over the drills, which it said ¡°constitute actions that increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait.¡±

¡°It has been the consistent position of the Government of Japan that it expects that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue,¡± Foreign Ministry press secretary Toshihiro Kitamura said in a statement. ¡°Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are important for the international community as a whole.¡±