Taiwan Strait Tensions Rise as US Navy Ships Pass Through
Tensions Flare in the Taiwan Strait
Two U.S. Navy ships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait this week, drawing an angry reaction from China, which claimed the mission increased security risks. The transit was the first of its kind since President Donald Trump took office last month.
US Navy Transits the Strait
The U.S. Navy, occasionally accompanied by ships from allied countries, transits the strait about once a month. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, says the strategic waterway belongs to it.
The U.S. Navy stated that the vessels, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and Pathfinder-class survey ship, USNS Bowditch, carried out a north-to-south transit from February 10-12.
China Objects to the Mission
"The transit occurred through a corridor in the Taiwan Strait that is beyond any coastal state’s territorial seas," said Navy Commander Matthew Comer, a spokesperson at the U.S. military’s Indo-Pacific Command. "Within this corridor, all nations enjoy high-seas freedom of navigation, overflight, and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms."
China’s military, however, said that Chinese forces had been dispatched to keep watch, and the U.S. action sent "the wrong signals and increased security risks," according to a statement from the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army.
China’s Stance on Taiwan
China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue and is regularly a stumbling block in Sino-U.S. relations. This week, China complained to Japan over "negative" references to China in a statement issued after a meeting between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Taiwan’s View
Taiwan’s defence ministry said its forces had also kept watch but noted the "situation was as normal." Taiwan President Lai Ching-te rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
Recent Developments
On Wednesday, Taiwan’s defence ministry reported that it had detected 30 Chinese military aircraft and seven navy ships operating around the island in the previous 24-hour period.
Conclusion
The latest development in the Taiwan Strait highlights the ongoing tensions between the United States, China, and Taiwan. The U.S. Navy’s transit through the strait is a routine exercise of its right to freedom of navigation, but it has sparked concern from China, which views Taiwan as a core interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Taiwan Strait?
A: The Taiwan Strait is a 130-kilometer (80-mile) wide waterway that separates mainland China from Taiwan.
Q: Why is the Taiwan Strait sensitive?
A: The Taiwan Strait is a sensitive issue in international relations due to China’s claims of sovereignty over Taiwan and the potential for military conflict.
Q: What is the US Navy’s position on the Taiwan Strait?
A: The U.S. Navy claims the right to freedom of navigation, overflight, and other internationally lawful uses of the sea in the Taiwan Strait.
Q: How does China respond to the US Navy’s actions?
A: China has been dispatching forces to keep watch in the Taiwan Strait and has expressed opposition to the US Navy’s actions, calling them a threat to security.