Two U.S. warships sailed the Taiwan Strait Sunday for the first time since Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan earlier this month.
Summary
Two U.S. warships sailed the Taiwan Strait Sunday for the first time since Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan earlier this month.
- The USS Antietam and the USS Chancellorsville were conducting “routine transit” through international waters, according to the U.S. 7th Fleet.
- China began a series of military drills near Taiwan after Pelosi’s visit, an act that “infuriated” the Chinese regime. U.S. warships routinely sail the strait despite Chinese provocations.
- U.S. officials said the ship’s transit “demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
- The Chinese military announced Sunday it was monitoring the two vessels as they sailed through the strait.
- China’s Communist government claims Taiwan as part of its territory although it has never governed the island. Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects China’s claims.
- CNN picked up the comments from a Chinese army spokesman, who said, “The frequent provocations and showing-off by the US fully demonstrate that the US is the destroyer of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the creator of security risks in the Taiwan Strait.”
- The New York Times spoke with analysts who predicted China’s extensive military drills after Pelosi’s visit would become a routine response to “perceived provocations” from the United States or Taiwan.
- The Washington Post noted the voyage comes among other signs of closer U.S.-Taiwan ties like the now-routine visits from U.S. lawmakers including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and the recent announcement of formal U.S.-Taiwan trade negotiations due to commence in the fall.
- FOX News noted U.S. and allied countries like the United Kingdom and Canada routinely sail through the strait despite the Chinese Communist government’s claims that international waters are actually their sovereign territory.
- The Daily Mail quoted National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who said, “The US Navy will sail, fly and operate wherever international law allows it to.”
- The Wall Street Journal observed the transit comes as Taiwan unveiled plans to increase its military spending and China announce plans for live-fire drills over the weekend near Taiwan.
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© Dominic Moore, 2022
