The guided missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville were on Sunday makes a journey “on the waters where the freedom of the high seas of applied navigation and overflight in conformity with international Law, US 7th Fleet in Japan said in statement.
It stated that the transit was “continuing” and that “there has been no interference from foreign military strength so far.”
“These ships (pass through) through the corridor in strait extending beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state. Ship transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. United States military flies, swims and works anywhere international law allows”, it says.
The strait is 110 miles (180 km) long stretch of water dividing democratic self-governing island of Taiwan from mainland China.
Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan, despite the fact that the ruling Communist Party of China has never controlled the island, and considers its strait part of its “inland waters”.
However, the US Navy says most of strait in international water.
These transits provoked an angry reaction from Beijing.
“Frequent provocations and displayoff The USA fully demonstrates that the USA is a destroyer of peace and stability in Taiwan Strait and creator of security risks in Taiwan Strait, Colonel Shi Yi, Spokesman for Eastern Command of the People’s Liberation Army said after the transit of Benfold on July 19.
Beijing is gaining momentum up military maneuvers in the strait – and the sky above it – following Pelosi’s visit to the island earlier this month.
Within minutes of Landing Pelosi in Taiwan on August 2, PLA announced four days of military exercises in six areas around the island.
The maneuvers included launching ballistic missiles into the waters around Taiwan, numerous Chinese warships in Taiwan Strait and dozens of PLA warplanes violate the median line, a point halfway between mainland China and Taiwan, which Beijing says he is not recognized, but is largely respected.
Since the official conclusion of these exercises, PLA warplanes have continued to cross the median line daily, usually in double-digit numbers, according to statistics from the Taiwan Ministry of Defense. From 8 August to last of four days of drill announced the night Pelosi landed in Taiwan, until August 22, between five and 21 PLA aircraft crossed the median line daily.
In July, a month before Pelosi’s trip, Chinese warplanes crossed the median line. just once, with unspecified number of aircraft, according to the Taiwan Ministry of Defense.
In addition, Taiwan reports that five to 14 PLA warships have been sighted. in waters surrounding Taiwan.
PLA exercises continue this week, partly of what usually busy season for Chinese drills.
This was announced by the command of the Eastern theater of military operations of China. on On Friday, a “joint combatreadiness of security patrols and combat military exercises of several services and weapons in water and airspace” around Taiwan.
Tweeted on Friday morning by the US Senator who does not represent the Biden administration, repeated support for Taiwan.
“I will never bow down to the Chinese Communist Party,” she said. in one. “I will continue to stand with (Taiwanese) and their right to freedom and democracy. Xi Jinping is not scare me”, she added later, referring to the leader of China.
“We don’t believe there should be a crisis in US-China relations over visit — peaceful visit — of speaker of house of Representatives in Taiwan… it was a fabricated crisis government in Beijing,” Burns said. in US embassy interview.
Now it’s a must government here in Beijing to convince the rest of in world that he will act peacefully in in future”, – said the ambassador.
“I think a lot of obsession because of world that China has now become an agent of instability in Taiwan Strait and it’s not in anyone’s interest,” he said.
Other US officials have said Washington will not change way United States military valid in in region.
“We will continue to fly, swim and work where international law allows consistent with our longstanding commitment to freedom of navigation, including standard air and maritime transit through the Taiwan Strait in in next a few weeks,” Kurt Campbell, coordinator for US President Joe Biden. for in the Indo-Pacific, the White House told reporters. on 12th of August.
This was stated by the Chinese Ambassador to Washington, Qin Gang. last The week that the US transit only adds to the tension.
“I do call on American colleagues show restraint, do nothing that would escalate tensions,” Qin told reporters. in Washington. “If there are any move damaging the territorial integrity and sovereignty of China, China will respond.”
