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“The ship transited by way of a hall within the strait that’s past the territorial sea of any coastal state,” it stated in an announcement.
“Chung-hoon’s transit by way of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the USA’ dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The USA army flies, sails and operates wherever worldwide regulation permits.”
The Taiwanese defence ministry additionally monitored Chung-hoon’s passage, saying it noticed nothing out of the bizarre because the vessel sailed in a northerly route by way of the strait.
The Chinese language embassy in Washington known as on the US to “instantly cease scary troubles, escalating tensions and undermining peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait”.
“US warships incessantly flex muscle mass within the identify of exercising freedom of navigation. This isn’t about preserving the area free and open,” the embassy instructed Reuters.
The transit got here days after the US army stated a Chinese language J-11 fighter jet had flown inside metres of a US RC-135 surveillance plane over the South China Sea. The incident on December 21 had pressured the US plane to launch evasive manoeuvres to keep away from a collision, it stated.
In response, Beijing blamed the US for “provocative” actions and endangering Chinese language nationwide safety by incessantly sending vessels and plane to conduct reconnaissance operations at shut vary.
The most recent army encounters within the Indo-Pacific come as Beijing’s tensions with the US intensify over Taiwan.
The US continues to take care of army and commerce ties with the self-governed island regardless of Beijing’s warnings in opposition to such exchanges. Washington authorised US$180 million price of arms gross sales to Taiwan final month, days after the PLA staged an enormous present of drive close to the island. A US delegation can also be as a consequence of arrive in Taipei subsequent week for commerce talks.
Beijing sees Taiwan as breakaway territory, and has not renounced the usage of drive in attaining reunification. Whereas the US, like most international locations, doesn’t recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state, it’s against any makes an attempt to take the island by drive.
Relations fell to a brand new low after then Home speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August in defiance of warnings from Beijing, which responded with huge live-fire drills across the island and suspended an array of bilateral dialogue with Washington.
In talks with US counterpart Joe Biden in Bali two months in the past, Chinese language President Xi Jinping reiterated that Taiwan was “the primary pink line” in bilateral ties that would not be crossed.
Their assembly on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia was Xi and Biden’s first face-to-face interplay as heads of state.
Shortly after, the White Home declared that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken can be travelling to China, his first such journey as prime US diplomat.
Blinken confirmed final month that he deliberate to go to China in January or February, following an settlement between Xi and Biden on the G20.
In a telephone name this week with outgoing US ambassador and newly appointed Chinese language Overseas Minister Qin Gang, Blinken pledged to take care of shut communication whereas Qin additionally hoped for a “higher US-China relationship”.
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