Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that a US ship was sailing through the strait, adding that the island’s military was “fully monitoring its activities […] close to our waters and our air, and that the situation was normal”. American ships are used to using this strait, to the great displeasure of Beijing, which considers the island as part of its territory.
An act of “provocation”
The People’s Republic of China regards foreign navigation in these waters as an attack on its sovereignty, while the United States and other countries consider this area to be part of international waters and therefore open to all. Sailing the USS Ralph Johnson “demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Seventh Fleet said. “The US military flies, sails and operates wherever international law permits. »
The Chinese army blasted “an act of provocation” aimed at supporting “independence forces” in Taiwan. Chinese troops “are on high alert at all times” to safeguard China’s sovereignty and security, Shi Yi, spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Operation Area, said in a statement. .
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