Two US warships – identified as the cruisers Chancellorsville and Antietam – sailed through international waters separating Taiwan and China on Sunday, the first such action since the visit to the island by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
China reacted angrily to the visit, and staged aggressive military drills as a form of protest.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has pledged to ‘reunify’ the self-governing democracy with the mainland regime, by force if necessary. The US has a security commitment to Taiwan, although not a guarantee to enter a conflict if it should arise.
The US navy said the passage of the ships ‘demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.’
Chinese maritime claims have been a source of friction with other countries in the region too.
US warships, at times accompanied by vessels from other friendly nations, pass through the Taiwan Strait from time to time, and are both monitored and denounced by China.