A Chinese reconnaissance vessel and the US Navy’s USS Pinckney both appeared off Taiwan’s eastern coast.
The Chinese vessel appeared off Hualien County Tuesday, and moved southward into waters off neighboring Taitung County. The USS Pinckney, meanwhile, transited through the Bashi Channel, off Taiwan’s southern tip, into the Pacific Ocean early on Wednesday, moving out of the navy’s observation range around an hour later.
The military says it is unclear if the Chinese vessels approach to Taiwan’s east coast is linked with ongoing tests in the area of a new, high-class Taiwan-built jet trainer, set to enter service at the end of the year.