Two of the United States naval ships has passed through the strategic Taiwan Strait on Monday as the American military are increasing their frequency of movement of their ships through the strategic waterways despite the opposition from China.
According to Reuters news reports, this voyage risk could further increase tensions with Beijing but will also be viewed by self-ruled Taiwan as a sign of support from the US President Donald Trump’s administration amidst growing tension between Beijing and Taipei.
US’ movement has come as the US president said that Washington and Beijing were “very, very close” to a negotiable deal in order to end a month-long trade dispute that has disrupted the markets and slowed the global growth.
The American navy’s passage via the Taiwan Strait came also just ahead of a second summit between the US president Trump and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-Un in Hanoi, in Vietnam, on Wednesday and Thursday.
In a statement, the US Pacific fleet said: “The ships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
According to the statement, the two navy ships were identified as a destroyer Stethem and Navy cargo and ammunition ship Cesar Chavez. The 180 km-wide (112 miles) Taiwan Strait separates Taiwan from China.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a news briefing on Tuesday: “We resolutely oppose the United States taking provocative actions which are not conducive to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the U.S. ships had left the strait following a northerly route.
The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency released a report earlier this year describing Taiwan as the “primary driver” for China’s military modernization, which it said had made major advances in recent years.