The American Destroyer USS Milius sailed Sunday April 16 in the Taiwan Strait, according to the United States Navy. Beijing said on Monday that it had monitored the passage of the American warship in the strait, and accused Washington of making “media hype” around the presence of its destroyer.
The US destroyer USS Milius sailed through the Taiwan Strait claimed by Beijing on Sunday, the US Navy said. The USS Milius” made a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the U.S. Navy said in a statement, ” in waters where freedom of navigation and overflight on the high seas applies in accordance with international law “. ” The ship transited through a corridor in the strait located beyond any territorial sea of a coastal State “, adds the press release. ” The United States military flies, sails and operates wherever international law permits.. »
In response, Beijing – which considers this strait as part of its territorial waters – indicated on Monday that it had monitored the passage of an American warship in the strait, and accused Washington of ” hype around the presence of his destroyer. Chinese forces in the area maintain a high level of alert at all times and resolutely defend national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability said Shi Yi, a military spokesman.
Last week theUSS Milius had sailed near the Spratly Islands, also claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea. The Chinese government had denounced a “ illegal trespass “.
A cruise that occurs in a tense context afterimportant Chinese military exercises around Taiwan last week. For three days, Chinese ships and warplanes had simulated a ” loopback of Taiwan, in retaliation for a meeting in the United States between the Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy. In August 2022, Beijing carried out its largest military maneuvers around Taiwan in decades, in response to a visit to Taipei by the then speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
China views with displeasure the rapprochement in recent years between the Taiwanese authorities and the United States which, despite the absence of official relations, provides the island with substantial military support and weaves a canvas of alliances to neutralize Beijing.
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(with AFP)