Through Taiwan Strait two US Navy warships transit

 On Sunday, Two United States warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the American navy said, the first such transit since China staged unprecedented military drills around the island.

The US 7th Fleet in Japan said in a statement that on Sunday the guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville were making the voyage “through waters where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law”. 

The transit “demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the US Navy said in its statement.” In the Taiwan Strait after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei tensions soared to their highest level in years this month.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council, John Kirby, told CNN’s Jim Sciutto on Sunday that the two US Navy warships transiting the Taiwan Strait sent a very clear and consistent message that the US military will sail, fly and operate wherever international law permits us to do so.” 

Kirby added, this was planned long ago. Around furiously, staging days of air and sea exercises, Taiwan Beijing reacted. Taipei condemned the drills for an invasion and missile tests as preparation. 

By China Taiwan lives under constant threat of an invasion, which claims the self-ruled, democratic island as part of its territory to be seized one day by force if necessary. 

Beijing over Taipei Washington diplomatically recognizes, but Taiwan maintains de facto relations and supports the island’s right to decide its own future.

Through waters the “routine” transit where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law. However, the pair of Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, the USS Antietam and the USS Chancellorsville conducted by the US Seventh Fleet on Sunday.”

Furthermore, “In the Strait through a corridor these ships transited according to the statement that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State”. “The United States military tries to fly, sail, and operate from anywhere where international law exists.” 

It is now the ambassador who said that the “here incumbent upon the government in Beijing try to convince the rest of the world that in the future it will act peacefully”. 

All around the world there’s a lot of concern. He said that China has now become an agent of instability in the Taiwan Strait and that’s not in anyone’s interest”.    

The US had “openly hyped up” the ships’ passage through the Strait, said by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. “Throughout their entire journey, and is aware of all movements the PLA Eastern Theatre Command is following and warning the US vessels,” spokesman Senior Colonel Shi Yi said.

“On high alert Troops in the theatre remain at all times to foil any provocations and thus are prepared. “From north to south Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed a pair of warships through the channel sailed. 

“The military is fully monitoring relevant movements in our surrounding sea and airspace and the situation is normal during their southward journey through the Taiwan Strait.” In Japan the Seventh Fleet is based and in the Pacific it is a core part of Washington’s navy presence. 

Naval vessels of the US and Western allies have increased both the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea “freedom of navigation” crossings to reinforce the concept that those seas are international waterways, sparking anger from Beijing.

Its position remains unchanged on Taiwan, Washington has said and in the Taiwan Strait has accused China of threatening peace and using the visit by Pelosi as a pretext for military exercises. 

From mainland China the strait is a 110-mile stretch of water that separates the democratic self-ruled island of Taiwan. 

The island never having been controlled  by China’s ruling Communist Party and considers the strait part of its “internal waters”, this has been claimed by Beijing sovereignty over Taiwan. Most of the strait is in international water, however, the US Navy says. 

Since the mid 1990s China’s drills included firing multiple ballistic missiles into waters off Taiwan, some of the world’s busiest shipping routes which was the first time Beijing has taken such a step.  

Against invasion and displaying its most advanced fighter jet in a rare night time demonstration Taiwan staged its own drills, simulating a defense. On Taiwan, China’s tone has grown more aggressive under President Xi Jinping, with increased military activity and more combative messaging in recent years.

Source:- https://usnewscap.com/through-taiwan-strait-two-us-navy-warships-transit/