Two US warships sail through Taiwan Straiton August 28, 2022 at 4:45 am

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

It is the first US operation in the strait since China held large-scale military drills in the area.

Guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) transits the East China SeaImage source, US 7th Fleet

Two US warships are passing through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy has announced.

It is the first such operation to take place since tensions between Taiwan and China increased following a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan earlier in August.

China reacted by holding large-scale military drills in the area.

The US and some other Western navies routinely sailed through the strait in recent years.

Washington says the two guided-missile cruisers – the USS Antietam and the USS Chancellorsville – are demonstrating freedom of navigation through international waters.

Beijing views such actions as provocative and maintains that the island of Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.

The US Navy said in a statement that the transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the “United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific”.

“These ships transited through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state,” the statement added.

Taiwan is self-ruled, but China sees it as a breakaway province with which it will eventually unite.

Taiwan has become yet another flashpoint amid heightened tensions and sharp rhetoric between Washington and Beijing in recent years, with the US walking a diplomatic tightrope on the issue.

The US abides by the “One China” policy – a cornerstone of the two countries’ diplomatic relationship which recognises only one Chinese government – and has formal ties with Beijing and not Taiwan.

But it also maintains a “robust unofficial” relationship with the island. That includes selling weapons for Taiwan to defend itself.

Presentational grey line

China and Taiwan: The basics

  • Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China sees the self-ruled island as a part of its territory and insists it should be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary
  • How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces
  • Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan, but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself
Presentational grey line
- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Geronimo the alpaca killed as legal row endson August 31, 2021 at 12:43 pm

A destruction order is carried out on the alpaca that tested positive for bovine TB.image sourceSWNSAn alpaca at the centre of a legal row...

Springboks record biggest win over All Blacks as Scott Barrett sent offon August 25, 2023 at 9:15 pm

New Zealand second row Scott Barrett is sent off as South Africa register their biggest win over the All Blacks, scoring five tries at...

Books Review – Secrets of Happiness and Harmony by Billie Eilish

There are things you can learn from Billie Eilish. If you have an interest in women's psychology and how they operate, this will be...

Ukraine tensions: Russia sees room for diplomacyon February 9, 2022 at 12:20 pm

Speaking to the BBC, Russia's EU ambassador says conflict can still be avoided through diplomacy.Image source, ReutersRussia's EU ambassador has told the BBC his...

Squid Game: Netflix to edit out key phone number from gory serieson October 7, 2021 at 12:28 am

A South Korean woman says she has been deluged by calls after her number appears in key scenes.