TAIWAN(Reuters)-In a notable move following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to China, a US Coast Guard ship successfully navigated the Taiwan Strait. China has dismissed the transit as “public hype,” emphasizing its objection to such actions. The US Navy’s 7th Fleet clarified that the national security cutter Stratton undertook a routine passage through the Taiwan Strait, upholding the principles of international law and freedom of navigation.
The Taiwan Strait, a politically sensitive area that separates China from the democratic island of Taiwan, often experiences tensions as Beijing intensifies its political and military pressure to establish Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan. The US 7th Fleet emphasized that the ship’s transit reflects America’s unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, reiterating its adherence to international law. The move is also seen as a demonstration of the United States’ determination to operate freely in accordance with established maritime norms.
The US Coast Guard ship’s transit occurred immediately after Blinken concluded his visit to Beijing. While both countries aimed to stabilize their contentious relationship and prevent it from escalating into a conflict, the talks failed to yield any significant breakthroughs. Taiwan’s defense ministry characterized the ship’s passage as “normal” and confirmed that its forces closely monitored the situation.
Meanwhile, Chinese coast guard vessels closely followed the US ship throughout its journey, with China’s coast guard asserting its commitment to protect its sovereignty, security, and maritime rights. Notably, the US Navy has frequently sailed military vessels, often accompanied by allied forces, through the Taiwan Strait in recent years, eliciting strong objections from China. In fact, just this month, the US Navy released a video depicting an “unsafe interaction” between a Chinese warship and a US destroyer operating alongside a Canadian warship in the strait.
Taiwan routinely reports Chinese incursions in the strait, particularly instances of Chinese warplanes crossing the median line that previously acted as an informal boundary between the two. Adding to the tensions, on Wednesday, Chinese warships, led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, also traversed the Taiwan Strait.
The transit of the US Coast Guard ship serves as a reminder of the ongoing power dynamics and heightened rivalry between major players in the Indo-Pacific region. While China considers such actions as provocations, the United States asserts its commitment to preserving stability and safeguarding its interests in the area.
