Status: 04/17/2023 11:35 a.m
The US speaks of a “routine transit”: A few days after a large-scale military maneuver by China near Taiwan, a US warship passed through the Taiwan Strait.
Shortly after the major Chinese maneuvers, a US warship passed through the Taiwan Strait. The destroyer “USS Milius” crossed the sea area on Sunday in a “routine transit”, the US Navy said. It was the first US naval deployment in the waters between China and Taiwan since January.
A few days ago, Beijing held military maneuvers around Taiwan and practiced a blockade of Taiwan.
Transit for “a free and open Asia-Pacific region”
The US warship had passed through a corridor that was “beyond the territorial waters of any coastal state,” the US Navy said. The passage demonstrates the United States’ commitment to “a free and open Asia-Pacific region.” The United States military goes wherever international law allows. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the ship was heading north through the strait and during the passage the situation in the strait was “as normal”.
The Chinese army said it had been tracking the US warship’s movements and was always on standby. The army is ready “to resolutely defend national sovereignty and security as well as peace and stability in the region”. During China’s major maneuvers, the “USS Milius” crossed disputed waters in the South China Sea last week. Beijing had protested against this and spoke of an “illegal intrusion” into its waters.
After the end of the large-scale maneuver, China appears to have continued its military activities around Taiwan, albeit on a reduced scale. In the morning, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had sighted 18 Chinese military planes and four naval vessels operating near Taiwan in the previous 24 hours.
Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – if necessary using military force. In addition, China regards the entire Strait of Taiwan as its sovereign waters.