The US Navy described patrols as “everyday” movements through the international waterways.
Chinese forces accused the US of being involved in dangerous actions in the Taiwan Strait after two US naval vessels passed through the international waterway.
The People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) said it monitored the movements of the naval destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and research vessel USNS Bowditch.
“U.S. actions send false signals and increase security risks,” PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement Wednesday.
“The theatre’s military is always on guard and is determined to defend the sovereignty and security of the nation, as well as peace and stability in the region,” said Eastern Theatre spokesman Li Xi.
The US Navy later confirmed the movement of two ships through the strait.
“The transport occurred through corridors in the Taiwan Straits beyond the seas of coastal provinces,” said Navy Commander Matthew Kommer, a spokesman for the US military’s Indo-Pacific Command.
“In this corridor, all countries enjoy high-class freedoms for sea voyages, overflights and other internationally legal use associated with these freedoms,” Comer said.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense also said they monitored the patrol, but that went as normal.
US naval vessels regularly carry freedom of navigation and pass through the Taiwan Strait 180 km (111 miles), but this week’s naval patrol has been the same as this kind of thing since US President Donald Trump took office in January. It was the first one.
China claims the Taiwan Strait is domestic territory, but it claims that the United Nations Act of the Sea makes “territorial water” 12 nautical miles (22km) from the coastline.
US allies may also participate in similar voyage exercises via the Taiwan Strait.
The last two confirmed missions by the US Navy were air patrols in November, and in October it was a joint patrol of the Channel by US and Canadian Navy ships. Naval ships from the Self-Defense Forces of France, the Netherlands and Japan also passed the Strait last year.
In addition to the Taiwan Strait, China also claims sovereignty over Taiwan, an autonomous democracy of 23 million people.
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesman for China’s Taiwan Issues Office, described the island as “core interest” on Wednesday.
“We are steadfast against this and will never allow outside interference, and we have the full confidence and ability for businesses to maintain the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. It never happens,” she said.
China will annex to Taiwan by peace or force by 2047, sending almost daily air and naval invasions in the direction of the island.
Known as “Grey Zone” activities, these tactics aim to threaten Taiwan and test its defensive capabilities.
Since 2022, Beijing has regularly staged military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, signaling anger in Taipei to engage in high-level meetings with US officials.
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