Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – A US warship and a US coast guard vessel sailed through the Taiwan Strait, on Friday (27/8/2021). Washington calls shipping through the sensitive waterway because it is claimed by China as a routine operation.
The routine US operation comes amid a spike in military tensions in the past two years between Taiwan and China. This also follows China’s strike drills using warships and fighter jets in southwest and southeastern Taiwan last week.
According to a US Navy statement, the destroyer Arleigh Burke, accompanied by the coast guard, transited through international waters in accordance with international law.
Furthermore, the US Navy said, “The ship made a lawful transit in the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military is free to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” such as quoted from Reuters, Saturday (28/8/2021).
It is known, the US Navy has carried out this kind of operation almost every month has infuriated China. China said the US move was provocative. China also said that the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army had organized troops to follow, monitor and guard the operations of US ships.
“The US has often carried out similar provocative acts which are very bad, showing that it is the biggest destroyer of peace and stability and the cause of the greatest security risk in the Taiwan Strait. We firmly oppose and strongly condemn this,” said Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei.
“Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. The issue of Taiwan is China’s internal affair and does not allow external interference. We call on the US to recognize the situation, stop provocations and adhere to existing principles,”
On the one hand, the United States is known to have no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is a major backer for arms sales in the country.
The US and Taiwan signed a Coast Guard Working Group agreement in March, which aims to coordinate policy, following a Chinese law that allows its coast guard vessels to fire on foreign vessels.
Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris accused China of intimidation and excessive maritime claims during her trip to Vietnam and Singapore this week. Harris’ visit to the Indo-Pacific region at the same time strengthens US commitment and support for this region.
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