Second U.S. warship transits Taiwan Strait under Biden administration

Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) A U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer transited through the Taiwan Strait in a routine operation on Wednesday, the second by a U.S. battleship since President Joe Biden assumed office in January.

"An American battleship sailed from north to south through the Taiwan Strait and continued moving south," the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a statement, without naming the ship, although according to a press release from the U.S. 7th Fleet, it was the USS Curtis Wilbur.

"The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Feb. 24 (local time) in accordance with international law," the U.S. 7th Fleet statement said.

"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows," the press release added.

According to the U.S. 7th Fleet, the Curtis Wilbur is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy's largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet's principal surface force.

On Feb. 4, the USS John S. McCain, also an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the first of such operations since Biden took office on Jan. 20.