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U.S. Navy Operations in the Taiwan Strait Prompt Chinese Warning
BEIJING: The Chinese government has issued a warning to the United States regarding what it describes as "public hyping" following the passage of a U.S. guided-missile destroyer through the politically sensitive Taiwan Strait.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Chinese military confirmed it had deployed both naval and air units to observe and issue warnings to the U.S. destroyer that traversed the Taiwan Strait. This marked the second such operation since Donald Trump took office as President of the United States.
Typically, the U.S. Navy conducts monthly transits in the Taiwan Strait, often accompanied by ships from allied nations. China, which maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory, asserts that the strategic waterway falls under its jurisdiction.
Earlier this month, China conducted military exercises around Taiwan, which drew condemnation from Taipei and raised concerns among the U.S. and its allies.
The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army identified the destroyer as the USS William P. Lawrence, stating that it passed through the strait on Wednesday in an effort of “public hyping.”
"Comments made by the United States have distorted the truth, misrepresented legal principles, confused the public, and misled international opinion," the command stated, without clarifying which specific comments it was addressing.
The Chinese military urged the U.S. to cease its exaggerated narratives and collaborate to ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Additionally, the command released a brief video on its social media channels showing a Chinese sailor observing the U.S. warship through binoculars from a distance, without providing exact details about the encounter’s location.
In response, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement confirming that the ship’s journey through the strait was routine and took place in "waters where freedoms of navigation and overflight are upheld as per international law." It underscored the U.S. commitment to maintaining navigation freedom for all countries.
The statement further emphasized that "navigational rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be restricted."
The last time the U.S. Navy publicly acknowledged a transit through the strait was in February, following Trump’s inauguration for a second term.
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