DEFENSE/U.S. military vessels make first Taiwan Strait transit of Trump's 2nd term

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) Two American military vessels transited the Taiwan Strait from Sunday through early Wednesday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a statement.

Records show that the transit through the narrow waterway separating Taiwan and China marked the first time the United States made the passage since President Donald Trump took office in January.

The two vessels sailed south through the Strait, the MND said, adding that it closely monitored nearby airspace and waters at the time and observed nothing unusual.

The MND did not name the two vessels but the U.S. Navy identified them as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the Pathfinder-class survey ship USNS Bowditch.

The ships carried out a north-to-south transit on Feb. 10-12, a U.S. military spokesperson told Reuters.

"The transit occurred through a corridor in the Taiwan Strait that is beyond any coastal state's territorial seas," said Navy Commander Matthew Comer, a spokesperson at the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command, according to the Reuters report.

The U.S. 7th fleet, however, did not publicize the passage via press release, as was standard during the previous Joe Biden administration.

The confirmations made by the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries came after China made a statement regarding the American transit earlier Wednesday.

The state-run Global Times quoted Li Xi (李熹), spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), as saying that PLA forces have "deployed naval and air forces to monitor the entire passage of the US vessels, effectively responding to and managing the situation."

"The actions of the U.S. sent the wrong signals and increased security risks. The Eastern Theater Command remains on high alert, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability," Li said.

The U.S. Navy, sometimes joined by allies, makes regular transits through the waterway separating Taiwan and China in what it calls freedom of navigation.

The last time a U.S. warship transited the Strait was on Oct. 20 last year. It was an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, along with a Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver.