The United States warship has sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Straight, saying it is part of their US military routine activity, which angered China.
In recent years US warships, and on occasion those from allied nations such as Britain and Canada, have sailed through the strait, drawing the ire of China, which claims Taiwan against the objections of its democratically elected government.
The US military stated that the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Chung-Hoon carried out the transit “Chung-Hoon’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
On the other hand, the spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington,Liu Pengyu, said “immediately stop provoking troubles, escalating tensions and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
The statement also added that “U.S. warships frequently flex muscles in the name of exercising freedom of navigation. This is not about keeping the region free and open,” and “China will continue to stay on high alert and is ready to respond to all threats and provocations at any time, and will resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
