Two US warships made a “routine passage” through the Taiwan Strait on Monday, in a move that is sure to ruffle feathers in Beijing as its relations with Washington continue to deteriorate.
A guided-missile destroyer and guided-missile cruiser both made the politically sensitive trip, the first such voyage by US vessels since July.
The move “demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet Commander Nate Christensen was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying. “The US Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows,” he stressed.
Since the US normalized relations with China, its relationship with Taiwan has been an area of recurring friction with Beijing, though Washington has tended to tread carefully.
Under the Trump administration, a greater frequency of arms sales to Taipei coupled with the passage of the Taiwan Travel Act, which encourages US government officials to visit Taiwanese counterparts, has increased tensions.
Following the sailing of US ships through the Taiwan Strait in July, Beijing’s top official for Taiwan affairs decried what he described as playing the “Taiwan card.”
Last month, after the US authorization of a US$330 million arms sale to Taiwan, China’s foreign ministry spokesman said the move “undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests,” adding that Beijing expressed its “strong dissatisfaction” and “resolute opposition.”
Ha, what has Indo-pacific got to do with Taiwan, China, US !
Ha, what has Indo-pacific got to do with Taiwan, China, US !
More silly provocations by USA. YAWN!
More silly provocations by USA. YAWN!
Because militarizing islands in the South China Sea and pointing ballistic missiles at your neighbors isn’t provocative at all?
Because militarizing islands in the South China Sea and pointing ballistic missiles at your neighbors isn’t provocative at all?
The only "silly provocations" you mention Ken, are China’s threats to unite Taiwan by force and it’s build up of missiles pointed at the mainland. Oh and maybe the number of fighters it sends regularly to penetrate Taiwanese airspace? Sending the Liaoning through the Taiwan strait? I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point by now
The only "silly provocations" you mention Ken, are China’s threats to unite Taiwan by force and it’s build up of missiles pointed at the mainland. Oh and maybe the number of fighters it sends regularly to penetrate Taiwanese airspace? Sending the Liaoning through the Taiwan strait? I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point by now
Simon Stevanovic Taiwan has never declared independence from China and it’s constitution claims all Chinese territory as its own. Taiwan has belonged to China since the Qin dynasty 2,000 years ago. Is it so surprising that countries don’t allow parts of it to break away? Even Catalonia isn’t allowed to break away from Spain and no one gives a shit about that.
Also, Chinese fighters never "penetrate Taiwan airspace." Read the news carefully. They "penetrate" their Air Defense Identification Zone, and Taiwan doesn’t even bother launching fighters to intercept anymore. There are also no international agreements on ADIZs, which is why all countries violate them.
Lastly, the Liaoning travelled along the Chinese coast. It’s frankly immature to whine about that.
There, I’ve addressed all your bullshit.
Simon Stevanovic Taiwan has never declared independence from China and it’s constitution claims all Chinese territory as its own. Taiwan has belonged to China since the Qin dynasty 2,000 years ago. Is it so surprising that countries don’t allow parts of it to break away? Even Catalonia isn’t allowed to break away from Spain and no one gives a shit about that.
Also, Chinese fighters never "penetrate Taiwan airspace." Read the news carefully. They "penetrate" their Air Defense Identification Zone, and Taiwan doesn’t even bother launching fighters to intercept anymore. There are also no international agreements on ADIZs, which is why all countries violate them.
Lastly, the Liaoning travelled along the Chinese coast. It’s frankly immature to whine about that.
There, I’ve addressed all your bullshit.
Michael Plum as you are ignorant enough to bring up "militarization of islands" I’ll educate you. The Phillippines has militarized 3 islands in the SCS; Malaysia has militarized 5; China has militarized 7; and Vietnam has militarized 30+. You don’ t know any of this because you haven’t looked into it and western media ignores what everyone else does in order to paint China as a villain. Welcome to the wide-world of U.S. propaganda.
Michael Plum as you are ignorant enough to bring up "militarization of islands" I’ll educate you. The Phillippines has militarized 3 islands in the SCS; Malaysia has militarized 5; China has militarized 7; and Vietnam has militarized 30+. You don’ t know any of this because you haven’t looked into it and western media ignores what everyone else does in order to paint China as a villain. Welcome to the wide-world of U.S. propaganda.
Simon Stevanovic seriously, an ADIZ isn’t a country’s "airspace." Instead of saying continuously ignorant things, why don’t you actually look it up. "Airspace" is recognized by the U.N., ADIZs are not. And the suggestion that China should avoid sailing ships off their coast because it borders the Taiwan Strait is ridiculous. The only "fact" you’ve got correct is that the mainland Chinese coast forms one side of the Taiwan Strait.
You’re also right, if Taiwan wasn’t a tiny little island with a small population and no resources then the present situation might be different. Who cares? If you bothered to research what you say, you wouldn’t sound like an idiot.
Simon Stevanovic seriously, an ADIZ isn’t a country’s "airspace." Instead of saying continuously ignorant things, why don’t you actually look it up. "Airspace" is recognized by the U.N., ADIZs are not. And the suggestion that China should avoid sailing ships off their coast because it borders the Taiwan Strait is ridiculous. The only "fact" you’ve got correct is that the mainland Chinese coast forms one side of the Taiwan Strait.
You’re also right, if Taiwan wasn’t a tiny little island with a small population and no resources then the present situation might be different. Who cares? If you bothered to research what you say, you wouldn’t sound like an idiot.
Jason Jean In no way did Taiwan belong to China since the Qin Dynasty. Taiwan has been inhabited by aboriginal people, with their own culture and social structure, since long before the Qin Dynasty, and they ruled themselves. The aboriginal tribes of Taiwan are the true Taiwanese, and they want nothing to do with the PRC and its practice of cultural genocide. Take your historical fabrications someplace else…
Jason Jean In no way did Taiwan belong to China since the Qin Dynasty. Taiwan has been inhabited by aboriginal people, with their own culture and social structure, since long before the Qin Dynasty, and they ruled themselves. The aboriginal tribes of Taiwan are the true Taiwanese, and they want nothing to do with the PRC and its practice of cultural genocide. Take your historical fabrications someplace else…
Aaron Jensen there was no governing body of the Taiwan aboriginal people. They "ruled" Taiwan like the natives "ruled" North America. China has claimed Taiwan since the Qin dynasty, fought over it with the Dutch and the Spanish (who would have colonized it), a Ming general provided it with its first major government, it became a coherent political entity when it was made into a province by the Qing Dynasty, and it has been majority Han Chinese since the end of the Chinese Civil War.
You should take your nonsense political rhetoric to Taiwan and preach to them how "the aboriginal tribes of Taiwan are the true Taiwanese." I’m sure the majority of the island would give you a sound beating for that bullshit. Better yet, go to the U.S. and spout off about how native americans are the only "true" North Americans. Take that bullshit on the road and see where it gets you.
Aaron Jensen there was no governing body of the Taiwan aboriginal people. They "ruled" Taiwan like the natives "ruled" North America. China has claimed Taiwan since the Qin dynasty, fought over it with the Dutch and the Spanish (who would have colonized it), a Ming general provided it with its first major government, it became a coherent political entity when it was made into a province by the Qing Dynasty, and it has been majority Han Chinese since the end of the Chinese Civil War.
You should take your nonsense political rhetoric to Taiwan and preach to them how "the aboriginal tribes of Taiwan are the true Taiwanese." I’m sure the majority of the island would give you a sound beating for that bullshit. Better yet, go to the U.S. and spout off about how native americans are the only "true" North Americans. Take that bullshit on the road and see where it gets you.