After a US warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the narrow waterway that separates China from the self-ruled island of Taiwan, China was dubbed the world’s “best writer of dangers.”
The US Army’s 7th Fleet said Tuesday that it’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer American Curtis Wilbur made a “routine” transit through the Taiwan Strait.
In a statement, the seventh fleet said the “ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US’s dedication to a loose and open Indo-Pacific”.
China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, said its forces monitored the vessel in the sensitive waterway and issued a caution.
“The US side is intentionally playing the equivalent of antique tricks and growing trouble and disrupting matters in the Taiwan Strait,” said the People’s Liberation military’s Japanese Theatre Command. This “fully demonstrates that America is the most significant driver of risks to local security and that we are adamantly opposed to this.”
The US movements come amid escalating naval tensions between Beijing and Taipei, with the Taiwanese authorities complaining of China, again and again, sending its air force into the island’s air defense area.
Last week, Taiwan stated 28 Chinese air force planes, which included warring parties and nuclear-successful bombers, entered Taiwan’s air defense identification sector (ADIZ) in the largest incursion to this point.
The US, Japan, and different Western powers have meanwhile stepped up aid to Taiwan, with the organization of seven leaders issuing a press release earlier this month condemning China over its human rights report and underscoring the importance of peace and balance throughout the Taiwan Strait – remarks that Beijing disregarded as “slander”.
Since 1922, the US military has made monthly transits through the Taiwan Strait.
The U.s.a. Curtis Wilbur additionally transited the strait a month in the past, prompting China to accuse Washington of threatening peace and balance in the location.
In another part of the Asia Pacific, the navies of the United States and Singapore gathered in Guam for “advanced maritime schooling.”
In a statement, the United States Pacific Fleet said the biannual drills – dubbed Pacific Griffin 2021 – started out on the summer solstice and could continue until July 7.
The 2-week physical games include both land and sea-based events, like maritime special operations and maritime counterterrorism schooling, anti-air defence physical activities, and anti-submarine conflict operations.
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