Two U.S. warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, U.S. and Taiwan defense officials said Monday, a maneuver intended to signal to China that the U.S. could travel in any international waters.
The voyage completed Monday “demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Cmdr. Nate Christensen, deputy spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. “The U.S. Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows,” he said.
China had no immediate reaction to the maneuver, which comes at a time of renewed tensions between Washington and Beijing.
While the U.S. officially adheres to a “One-China” policy, meaning Washington won’t establish formal diplomatic relations with Taipei, U.S. moves such as sending warships through the strait are seen in Taiwan as a demonstration of support for the island’s independence.
The latest U.S. transit came days after Defense Secretary Jim Mattis met in Singapore with his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Wei Fenghe, in what Mr. Mattis said was an effort to reset a strained military relationship.
The two discussed a visit by Mr. Wei to Washington, U.S. officials attending the meeting said.
Mr. Mattis, who was in Singapore to meet with his regional counterparts, also repeatedly said the U.S. military would sail and fly in any international waters.
The USS Curtis Wilbur, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and the USS Antietam, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, completed the 16-hour transit on Monday, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said.
The two U.S. warships were making a “routine passage through international waters in the Taiwan Strait,” sailing northward from waters off the self-ruled island’s southernmost point, the official news agency of Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.
