US warship transits the sensitive Taiwan Strait again.
TAIPEI: A U.S. warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait again on Tuesday (Nov. 23), part of what the U.S. military calls routine activity, but always annoying China, whose government believes that Washington is trying to provoke regional tensions.
The US Navy said the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Milius conducted a “routine transit through the Taiwan Strait” through international waters in accordance with international law.
“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies navigate and operates anywhere international law allows,” he added.
There was no immediate response from China.
Last month, the Chinese military condemned the United States and Canada for sending a warship across the Taiwan Strait, saying they threatened peace and stability in the region.
China claims Taiwan ruled democratically as its own territory and has mounted repeated air force missions to the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the past year, sparking anger in Taipei.
The United States, like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it is its largest international arms sponsor and supplier.
Beijing calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with Washington.
US Navy ships have been passing through the strait about once a month, much to the anger of Beijing. America’s allies occasionally send ships across the strait as well, including Britain in September.