US warships transit Taiwan Strait, China denounces 'provocation'
31 December, 2020
Two US warships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Thursday (Dec 31), the US Navy said, the second such objective this month and approaching almost fourteen days after a Chinese aircraft carrier group used the same waterway.
China, which statements Taiwan as its territory, features been angered by stepped-up US support for the island, including arms revenue and sailing warships through the Taiwan Strait, further souring Beijing-Washington relations.
The US Navy said the guided missile destroyers USS John S McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur had "conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Dec 31 relative to international law".
"The ships' transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free of charge and open Indo-Pacific. AMERICA military will continue steadily to fly, sail and operate wherever overseas law allows."
This is the thirteenth sailing through the strait by the US Navy this season.
China's Defence Ministry denounced the trip due to "provocation" and "a express of drive", adding Chinese ships and aircraft trailed the US ships.
The passing of the ships sent the incorrect message to supporters of Taiwan independence and so are a significant threat to peace and stability, it added.
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army maintains a higher level of alert constantly, responds to all threats and provocations at all times, and resolutely defends countrywide sovereignty and territorial integrity," the ministry said.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry explained the ships acquired sailed in a northerly direction through the strait on what it termed a great "ordinary mission". Taiwan's military monitored the sailing and the problem is "as normal", it added.
China's military said it had tailed the last US warship to pass through the Taiwan Strait on Dec 19, and denounced the mission.
The day from then on trip, Taiwan's navy and air force were deployed as a Chinese aircraft carrier group led by the country's latest carrier, the Shandong, sailed through the Taiwan Strait.
China said the group was coming to routine drills found in the disputed South China Sea.
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