After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which prompted a significant military exercise by China close to the island, two US warships went across the Taiwan Strait on Sunday for the first time.
The USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville are transiting the Taiwan Strait on August 28 (local time) in line with international law via waters where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight are applicable.
“The Seventh Fleet continued, “The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. These ships passed through a corridor in the Strait beyond any coastal state’s territorial sea. Anywhere that international law permits, the United States military can fly, sail, or conduct operations.”
The change occurred during US Senator Marsha Blackburn’s trip to Taiwan this past week. Blackburn is the fourth American politician to travel to Taiwan this month, despite the fact that Taiwan-related tensions between the US and China have risen sharply. Shortly after Pelosi’s visit, US Senator Ed Markey traveled to Taiwan during China’s military drill earlier this month.
Following his meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, Blackburn sent a stern message to China in which he stated: “We will not be bullied” and continued, “The US will not allow efforts to harm our nation and our allies.”
In response to rumors that some ballistic missiles had approached Taiwan, China sent warships, missiles, and fighter planes to the area.
Taiwan is seen as a breakaway province by China, which has threatened to annex it if necessary. Taipei documented 969 incursions by Chinese airplanes in 2021, setting a new high for the number of aircraft China launched into Taiwan’s air defense zone.
