Two U.S. warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday (Dec. 31), angering the Chinese Communist Party, the U.S. Navy said.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur routinely transited the Taiwan Strait on Dec. 31 in accordance with international law, the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet said in a statement.
The statement said the warships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indian Pacific. To the extent permitted by international law, the U.S. military will continue to conduct flight and navigation operations, as well as missions.
This is the 13th time the U.S. Navy has crossed the strait this year and the second time in three weeks that U.S. warships have crossed the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said the U.S. warships are on a “regular mission” as they sail northward along the Taiwan Strait. The ministry added that Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the U.S. warships throughout their voyage and that the situation was normal.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense issued a statement through its official microblogging account, “Ministry of National Defense Release,” saying that the U.S. ship had once again sailed through the Taiwan Strait after Dec. 18, “showing off its force and provoking the situation,” and expressed firm opposition to it.
On December 18, the USS Mustin (DDG-89) crossed the Taiwan Strait. Shortly thereafter, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong also crossed the Taiwan Strait and passed through the South China Sea.
On December 22, the USS McCain conducted free navigation operations in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands, an area claimed by Taiwan, Beijing and Vietnam.
Recent Comments