China strongly criticized the United States for the passage of its first warship through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, deeming it a source of ‘trouble and provocation.’
The move follows the recent parliamentary and presidential elections in Taiwan, where the people voted for Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), known for advocating Taiwan’s independence.
China’s Defence Ministry labeled such actions “on China’s doorsteps” as the underlying cause of tensions between the US and China. China regards Taiwan as its territory and has expressed its intent to bring the island under its control, even by force if necessary.
Despite various military threats and warnings from China, Taiwan continues to assert that only its people have the right to determine their future.
The US Navy confirmed that the destroyer USS John Finn transited through a corridor in the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing that it was “beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state.”
Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Wu Qian, in a briefing, criticized the US for causing “trouble and provocation on China’s doorstep” through frequent military activities in waters and airspace around China. Wu defended China’s response, stating that driving away the US warship was “justified, reasonable, professional, and restrained.” He added that the Chinese military would continue to conduct military operations in the Taiwan Strait regularly as part of its training.
Wu urged the US to stop abusing international law, cease provocative behavior, and strictly restrain front-line troop activities, emphasizing that such measures are fundamental to avoiding accidents at sea and in the air. It’s worth noting that China agreed to resume military contacts with the US during a meeting last November between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in California.
