The United States Navy has sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait, the U.S. Pacific Fleet told The Japan Times, as military and trade tensions continue to fester between Beijing and Washington.
The guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell, which is based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl conducted "a routine Taiwan Strait Transit" on Thursday "in accordance with international law," U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman said in a written statement.
"The ships' transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Gorman said. "The U.S. Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.