Washington DC, May 23: The United States military has said on Wednesday it made two of its navy warships transit through the strategic Taiwan Strait, marking the latest voyage through the disputed waterway and a move likely to attract Chinese condemnation at times of tense ties between the world’s two powerful economies.
Taiwan always considered one of the rising numbers of flashpoints in the China-US relationship, which includes US sanctions, a trade war, as well as, growing Chinese military posture in the South China Sea – where the US use to conduct a freedom of navigation patrols.
According to Reuters news reports, the recent transit will be seen by Taiwan as a sign of support from US President Donald Trump administration amidst escalating tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
A US military spokesperson told Reuters the navy oil tanker Walter S. Diehl and destroyer Preble have carried out the transit.
In a statement, the US Navy’s seventh fleet spokesperson commander Clay Doss said, “The ships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.” He said all interactions went professionally and safely.
However, no immediate response or reaction was noted from the Chinese side.
Taiwan’s defence ministry stated during the US vessels voyage through Taiwan Strait was monitored by Taiwan’s armed forces and nothing ordinary happened.
The US has no formal relations with Taiwan, but according to international law, it is bounded to support Taiwan with the means to defend itself as well as its main source of arms.
The Pentagon said the US has sold more than $15 billion to Taiwan since 2010 in weaponry. Beijing has been ratcheting up pressure on Taiwan, trying to claim China’s sovereignty over the island, considered to be a province of “one China”.