In what would be the U.S’ first highly publicized sail since Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the sailing of the two U.S navy ships might further heighten the tension between China and America.
Two U.S navy ships conducted a “routine Taiwan Strait transit” on Sunday. USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville of the 7th fleet transited through the strait dividing mainland China and Taiwan. Naturally, this move has invoked Bejing’s anger.
U.S navy warships sail through Taiwan Strait
The 160-km strait that divides Taiwan and China made headlines on Sunday as it was again the reason behind escalated tensions. Two guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville conducted a “routine Taiwan Strait transit”. This routine would be the first since U.S. House speaker, Nancy Pelosi visited the country.
America claimed that the sail was its right under international laws. The U.S. 7th fleet in its statement said that the transit “through waters where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law”. “These ships transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State.”, it continued. “The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows.”, it added.
Apart from the U.S other Western nations have also conducted exercises/sailed through the region.
China has made no effort to hide its anger since the sailing concluded. On Sunday the Chinese military said that it was maintaining high alert and was ready to defeat any provocations. The whole situation is being monitored by the military.
Reactions and responses
In an interview with CNN, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the transit sent a “very clear message, very consistent message … that the United States Navy, the United States military will sail, fly and operate wherever international law permits us to do so.”
Kirby also said that the sail was “very consistent with our One China” policy, very consistent with our desire to make sure that we can continue to work toward a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Taiwan has been at the centre of the standoff between the two superpowers ever since Pelosi visited it. It has also been conducting routine military exercises and intruding on its airspace quite frequently.
China maintains that Taiwan is a part of its mainland. Hence, it considers that the visit was an interference in its internal matter on America’s part.
Even though the U.S does not out rightly support Taiwan, it certainly is a long-time trade partner of the island nation.
Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan
Pelosi, earlier this month, became the first high-ranking U.S official to visit the self-governing island of Taiwan on Tuesday. However, her visit was not welcomed by everyone, especially the Chinese authorities. Following her visit, China announced sanctions on her and her family members. “Despite China’s serious concerns and firm opposition, Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan, seriously interfering in China’s internal affairs, undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampling on the one-China policy, and threatening the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” said a ministry spokesperson.
China responded soon by dispatching navy ships and warplanes. Nearly, 30 military ships and warplanes flew across the mid-line, which is the unofficial buffer zone between mainland China and Taiwan. Taiwan, then gathered its jets to warn off the Chinese aircraft present in its air space.
China claims that Taiwan is a part of its territory which it had lost during the Civil war.
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