Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) A United States military vessel transited the Taiwan Strait Thursday, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).
The vessel sailed north through the Taiwan Strait, the MND said in a statement, adding that it was closely monitoring nearby airspace and waters as the ship made the transit and observed nothing unusual.
In its statement, the U.S. 7th Fleet identified the ship as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson.
The ship was conducting a routine Taiwan Strait transit through waters where high-seas freedom of navigation and overflight apply under international law, according to the statement.
"Ralph Johnson's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle," the statement read. "No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms."
Meanwhile, Li Xi (李熹), spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command, criticized the U.S. for "trumpeting" the transit.
The command mobilized air and naval forces to shadow the USS Ralph Johnson as it was sailing up the strait in accordance with China's law, Li said in a statement.
"The command will remain vigilant at all times and remain steadfast in its resolve to uphold national sovereignty and regional peace," according to the statement.
The U.S. last transited the Taiwan Strait on May 8 when it sailed the guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey down through the strait.
- Taiwan budgets US$1.33 billion for advanced F-16V EW systemsTaiwan has earmarked NT$42.8 billion (US$1.33 billion) to procure an advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite known as the Viper Shield, which its military hopes to install in the F-16V fighter jets it has ordered from the United States, according to a Ministry of National Defense (MND) spending plan.09/09/2024 09:08 PM
- MND earmarks NT$4.9 billion to bolster backbone networkThe Ministry of National Defense (MND) has earmarked about NT$4.9 billion (US$152.9 million) to acquire backbone subnetworks for faster and more stable battlefield data transmission.09/05/2024 09:58 PM
- Taiwan should prepare to coordinate joint operations with US: ExpertsTaiwan should prepare to coordinate joint operations with the United States in case a cross-strait conflict arises, Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), has suggested.09/02/2024 04:20 PM
- Business
Taiwan's real wage growth hits 4-year high for first 7 months of 2024
09/12/2024 11:24 PM - Society
NHI to open in-home acute care program to hospice patients: Official
09/12/2024 11:00 PM - Society
Taiwan revises rule to allow peracetic acid to be used as food cleanser
09/12/2024 10:23 PM - Politics
U.S. scholar Perry Link talks about self-censorship in China
09/12/2024 10:12 PM - Culture
Cabinet approves new NT$1.4 billion art history reconstruction plan
09/12/2024 09:53 PM