US Navy ships pass through Taiwan Strait amid tensions with China

The US Navy has sent two ships through the strategic Taiwan Strait, in a move that is likely to aggravate Washington’s already-high tensions with China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory.

According to a US military statement, the naval destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur and the Coast Guard cutter Bertholf sailed through the strait in “a routine transit” on Sunday.

“The ships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said the statement. “The US will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.”

The US -- like almost all world countries -- recognizes Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan under the “One China” policy, but it has long courted Taipei in an attempt to counter Beijing.

China has not yet reacted to the US Navy’s latest transit through the waterway, but it usually responds with anger to such moves and urges Washington to respect the “One China” policy.

On the contrary, Taipei views such US military measures as a sign of support amid its tensions with mainland China.

The island’s Defense Ministry said it monitored the US ships, which passed through the Taiwan Strait from the southwest and proceeded in a northerly direction. Nothing unusual was observed and there was no cause for alarm, it added.

The developments come as Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, who is on a tour of diplomatic allies in the Pacific, will stop over in the US state of Hawaii on her way home this week.

Last week, China called on the US not to allow Tsai to stop over in the country, saying it had lodged “stern representations” over the plan.

“We have consistently and resolutely opposed the United States or other countries which have diplomatic relations with China arranging this kind of transit,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

SS