A US Navy destroyer transited through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday. This is the fifth time a US Navy ship has passed through the Taiwan Strait since Joe Biden became president in January.
The US Navy’s press release said, “The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit May 18 (local time) in accordance with international law. The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows.”
The last warship the US sent through the Taiwan Strait was the USS John McCain. The John McCain made its transit on April 7, the same day China sent 15 military planes into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone. China has been sending an unprecedented number of warplanes near Taiwan since August last year.
In an interview with Radio Taiwan International, Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, said that these transits show the US’ support of both Taiwan and of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Hsiao said, “The United States’ rock-solid support of Taiwan is demonstrated through US leadership in continuing freedom of navigation operations in the region as a strong deterrent against any consideration of unilateral military action that would upset the status quo.”
China, on the other hand, has spoken out in opposition to the ship’s movements. A spokesman for China's Eastern Theatre Command on Wednesday condemned the move. He said, “The US actions send the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, deliberately disrupting the regional situation and endangering peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
Meanwhile, the US Pacific Fleet also posted a message on Facebook on Wednesday saying that the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile destroyer JS Maya sailed together during a recent training exercise in the Philippine Sea.
The post, with several photos attached, had the hashtag #NavyPartnerships followed by Japan and US flags.