The United States Navy has conducted its first publicly acknowledged mission through the Taiwan Strait since late November, intensifying an already fraught relationship with China. The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and the USNS Bowditch, a Pathfinder-class survey ship, completed a north-to-south transit of the strait from February 10 to 12. The passage follows the last confirmed mission in October, which included a Canadian warship. China views Taiwan as its most critical diplomatic issue, and regularly voices complaints regarding Sino-US relations, particularly concerning Taiwan.
China's military has consistently dispatched forces to monitor activities around Taiwan, and this week was no exception. On Wednesday, Taiwan's defense ministry reported detecting 30 Chinese military aircraft and seven navy ships operating nearby in the previous 24 hours. The ministry reassured that its forces were also vigilant, noting that "the situation was as normal."
The US Navy undertakes such transits approximately once a month, sometimes with allied ships. In late November, a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flew over the waterway, marking the last public acknowledgment of US military presence until now. Navy Commander Matthew Comer clarified that "the transit occurred through a corridor in the Taiwan Strait that is beyond any coastal state's territorial seas."
China remains firm in its stance against external interference. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, stated:
"We are resolutely opposed to this and will never allow any outside interference, and have the firm will, full confidence and capability to uphold the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Taiwan's position contrasts sharply with Beijing's claims. President Lai Ching-te rejects China's sovereignty assertions, advocating for the people's right to determine their future. Meanwhile, Zhu Fenglian emphasized Taiwan as a "core interest" for China, cautioning the United States to act wisely.
Amid these developments, China's military operations in the strait are perceived by Taiwan's government as part of Beijing's ongoing pressure campaign. Sun Li-fang, a ministry spokesperson, remarked:
"I really don't need to explain further who is the so-called troublemaker around the Taiwan Strait. All other countries in the neighbourhood have a deep appreciation of this."
The tension extends beyond regional concerns. China recently lodged a complaint with Japan over statements made after a meeting between former President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The statement referenced "maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," which China found contentious.
Chinese state television conveyed a nationalistic message amid these diplomatic frictions, urging efforts to "guard the joy and peace of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait." However, China's Eastern Theatre Command echoed disapproval of US actions, stating:
"The US action sends the wrong signals and increases security risks."
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