“The ship transited through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state,” it said in a statement.
“Chung-hoon’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows.”
US Navy officers keep watch as the USS Chung-hoon makes its transit. Photo: Handout
The Taiwanese defence ministry also monitored Chung-hoon’s passage, saying it observed nothing out of the ordinary as the vessel sailed in a northerly direction through the strait.
The Chinese embassy in Washington called on the US to “immediately stop provoking troubles, escalating tensions and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
“US warships frequently flex muscles in the name of exercising freedom of navigation. This is not about keeping the region free and open,” the embassy told Reuters.
The transit came days after the US military said a Chinese J-11 fighter jet had flown within metres of a US RC-135 surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea. The incident on December 21 had forced the US aircraft to launch evasive manoeuvres to avoid a collision, it said.
In response, Beijing blamed the US for “provocative” actions and endangering Chinese national security by frequently sending vessels and aircraft to conduct reconnaissance operations at close range.
01:46
Chinese fighter jet almost collides with US military plane over South China Sea
The latest military encounters in the Indo-Pacific come as Beijing’s tensions with the US intensify over Taiwan.
The US continues to maintain military and trade ties with the self-governed island despite Beijing’s warnings against such exchanges. Washington approved US$180 million worth of arms sales to Taiwan last month, days after the PLA staged a massive show of force near the island. A US delegation is also due to arrive in Taipei next week for trade talks.
Beijing sees Taiwan as breakaway territory, and has not renounced the use of force in achieving reunification. While the US, like most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state, it is opposed to any attempts to take the island by force.
Relations fell to a new low after then House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August in defiance of warnings from Beijing, which responded with massive live-fire drills around the island and suspended an array of bilateral dialogue with Washington.
In talks with US counterpart Joe Biden in Bali two months ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that Taiwan was “the first red line” in bilateral ties that could not be crossed.
Their meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia was Xi and Biden’s first face-to-face interaction as heads of state.
03:33
Xi, Biden discuss Taiwan and Xinjiang in first in-person meeting
Shortly after, the White House declared that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken would be travelling to China, his first such trip as top US diplomat.
Blinken confirmed last month that he planned to visit China in January or February, following an agreement between Xi and Biden at the G20.
In a phone call this week with outgoing US ambassador and newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Blinken pledged to maintain close communication while Qin also hoped for a “better US-China relationship”.
