Two U.S. Navy ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, reigniting tensions between the United States and China over the disputed waterway.
At a Glance
- USS Ralph Johnson and USNS Bowditch conducted a transit through the Taiwan Strait from February 10 to 12
- The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Air Force tracked the U.S. ships during the passage
- China criticized the action, claiming it sent wrong signals and increased security risks
- The U.S. maintains the transit occurred in international waters, upholding freedom of navigation
- Taiwan’s Defense Ministry expressed agreement with the U.S. action, emphasizing regional peace
U.S. Navy Asserts Freedom of Navigation
The U.S. Navy’s recent transit through the Taiwan Strait has once again highlighted the ongoing strategic competition between the United States and China in the region – and China isn’t happy about the United States asserting its authority in the region.
The USS Ralph Johnson and USNS Bowditch sailed through the strait from February 10 to 12, marking the first such passage since the Trump administration took office.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command defended the move, stating that it occurred in international waters.
“Ships transit between the East China Sea and the South China Sea via the Taiwan Strait and have done so for many years. The transit occurred through a corridor in the Taiwan Strait that is beyond any coastal state’s territorial seas. Within this corridor all nations enjoy high-seas freedom of navigation, overflight, and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms,” the command explained.
As expected, China reacted strongly to the U.S. Navy’s presence in the strait. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Air Force closely tracked the American vessels throughout their passage. The PLA Eastern Theater Command criticized the action, viewing it as a provocation and a threat to regional stability.
“The US’s actions sent the wrong signals and increased security risks. The troops of the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command remain on high alert at all times to resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability,” PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesman Senior Capt. Li Xi said.
This incident underscores the ongoing dispute over the status of the Taiwan Strait. While China considers it part of its territorial waters, the international community, led by the United States, maintains that it constitutes international waters open to free navigation.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry expressed support for the U.S. action, emphasizing its importance for regional peace and freedom of navigation in the area. The island nation, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) but faces constant pressure from Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has not ruled out annexation by force.
The presence of two U.S. warships instead of one during this transit is seen as a clear statement of American policy continuity and emphasis on Taiwan Strait security. This move comes at a time when some U.S. lawmakers are calling for a reevaluation of the longstanding “One China” policy.
One thing’s for sure: Trump won’t be backing down to China on this.
