The United States military stated it had sent two of its Navy warships to transit through the strategic Taiwan Strait on Sunday, as the Pentagon was increasing its frequency of movement in line with international law, despite strong opposition from China.
According to Reuters news reports, the recent American vessel voyage risks further escalation of tensions between Beijing and Washington, but is expected to be viewed as a sign of support to Taiwan by US President Donald Trump administration, amid growing tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
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.
The two US warships were identified as the William P. Lawrence and Stethem. The 112-mile-wide (180-km) Taiwan Strait separates Taiwan from China.
In an official statement, a spokesperson for the US Navy’s seventh fleet, commander Clay Doss said, “The ships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Doss further added there weren’t any unprofessional or unsafe interactions with the warships of other nations during the transit through Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s defence ministry claimed the American vessels had sailed to north through the strait. In a statement, the ministry said, “U.S. ships freely passing through the Taiwan Strait is part of the mission of carrying out the Indo-Pacific strategy.”
It also said Taiwan’s military forces had monitored the transit and nothing ordinary happened during the time period. However, there were no immediate comments from China.
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”.
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