TAIPEI, Taiwan — The U.S. Navy sailed two warships by the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, within the first such transit publicized since U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier in August, at a time when tensions have stored the waterway significantly busy.
The USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville are conducting a routine transit, the U.S. seventh Fleet mentioned. The cruisers “transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State,” the assertion mentioned.
China performed many navy workouts within the strait because it sought to punish Taiwan after Pelosi visited the self-ruled island towards Beijing’s threats.
China has despatched many warships crusing within the Taiwan Strait and waters surrounding Taiwan since Pelosi’s go to, in addition to sending warplanes and firing long-range missiles. It views the island as a part of its nationwide territory and opposes any visits by international governments as recognizing Taiwan as its personal state.
China mentioned it tracked the motion of the ships. “Troops of the (Eastern) Theater Command are on high alert and ready to foil any provocation at any time,” mentioned senior Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson for the People Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, talking on CNN on Sunday, mentioned the transit despatched a “very clear message, very consistent message … that the United States Navy, the United States military will sail, fly and operate wherever international law permits us to do so.”
Kirby additionally famous the transit was “very consistent with our ‘One China’ policy, very consistent with our desire to make sure that we can continue to work toward a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The U.S. frequently sends its ships by the Taiwan Strait as a part of what it calls freedom of navigation maneuvers.
The 100 mile-wide strait divides Taiwan from China.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”