US warship passes through Taiwan Strait amid tensions with China
The passage of two US warships through an area sensitive to China puts the two sides at risk of escalating tensions after a series of conflicts.
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US Navy destroyer USS Benfold. Photo:US Navy |
A US Navy official confirmed that the USS Mustin and USS Benfold were heading north and passing through the Taiwan Strait yesterday. This is the first time a US warship has entered this area since July 2017, when the heavy destroyer USS John S. McCain transited here, according toCNN.
Pacific Fleet spokesman Charlie Brown said the movement of the two warships was a "normal transit operation" and has been conducted for many years. The move comes amid increasingly tense relations between the Trump administration and China due to the trade war, North Korea and the South China Sea.
The passage of US ships through this sensitive area is considered a provocation to China because Beijing considers Taiwan an inseparable territory and can use force to unify. US aircraft carriers have not been present here since 2007.
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Taiwan Strait area. Graphics:BBC. |
China has stepped up its military activities in the region by sending a domestically built aircraft carrier through the strait in January and conducting large-scale military exercises recently.Analysts say Beijing's move is a warning to the US as relations between Washington and Taiwan warm.After taking office, President Donald Trump received a congratulatory call from Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen. The US also supports Taiwan's defense by selling advanced weapons, despite Beijing's strong objections.
