A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer passed through the Taiwan Strait Thursday (Feb. 4), the first Time since the Biden administration sent a warship across the sea lane between mainland China and Taiwan.
The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain, based in Japan, conducted the routine voyage in international waters in compliance with international law, U.S. Seventh Fleet spokesman Lt. Joe Keiley said in a statement.
Keiley said the U.S. warship’s passage through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to “a free and open Indo-Pacific region. He stressed that the U.S. military will “continue to fly, sail and conduct missions wherever international law allows.
China’s Foreign Ministry was quick to react to the U.S. military’s actions Thursday afternoon. In response to media questions on the matter, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said he “hopes the U.S. side will play a constructive role for regional peace and stability, not the other way around.” Wang Wenbin said China closely follows and keeps track of the passage of U.S. warships through the Taiwan Strait throughout the process.
Wang Wenbin added that China will continue to maintain a high level of readiness at all times, respond to all threats and provocations at all times, and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Taiwan, with a population of 24 million, has existed as a separate political entity from mainland China for more than 70 years. But Beijing still claims full sovereignty over Taiwan. Cross-Strait relations have seriously deteriorated since President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election last year. Especially in the latter part of the Trump administration when U.S.-Taiwan relations have become closer, the Chinese Communist authorities have increased military pressure on Taiwan, with Chinese military planes crossing the center line of the Taiwan Strait almost daily to harass Taiwan in close proximity.
In the past week or so, the U.S. Department of Defense has moved the USS Nimitz carrier battle group from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific region, and the USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier fleet into the South China Sea. These two carrier fleets, along with the USS Reagan carrier fleet based at the U.S. Naval Base in Yokosuka Harbor, Japan, form a three-carrier fleet operating simultaneously in the Indo-Pacific region.
Under the Trump Administration, the United States has made a strong commitment to Taiwan’s defense, approving the sale of high-end military equipment to Taiwan, including F-16 jet fighters, advanced missiles and main battle tanks, while also sending high-level U.S. officials to visit Taiwan.
U.S. warships passed through the Taiwan Strait 13 times last year, one more than the 12 times in 2016, the last year of President Obama’s term, according to U.S. military data.
The Biden Administration recently said the new administration will not backtrack from its predecessor’s position on Taiwan.
New U.S. Secretary of State John Blinken said last week that the commitment made to Taiwan has been firm and cross-partisan. Part of that commitment is to ensure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself in the event of aggression,” Blinken said. The Biden administration will absolutely keep that commitment.”
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