TAIPEI: A US warship sailed through a sensitive waterway separating Taiwan from China on Thursday, the US Navy said, as a way to demonstrate Washington鈥檚 鈥渃ommitment to upholding freedom of navigation.鈥�
China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, and has in recent years upped military pressures by sending in increasing numbers of fighter jets, drones and naval vessels around the island.
Thursday鈥檚 transit of the 180-kilometer Taiwan Strait comes as the United States and its allies have increased crossings to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing.
The voyage by the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson showed Washington鈥檚 鈥渃ommitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle,鈥� the US Navy鈥檚 Seventh Fleet said in a statement Thursday.
鈥淣o member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms.鈥�
Taiwan鈥檚 defense ministry confirmed that the warship sailed south to north, and that 鈥渘o anomaly was detected in our surroundings.鈥�
Beijing鈥檚 People鈥檚 Liberation Army dismissed the transit as 鈥渁 public hype鈥� and said its Eastern Theatre Command 鈥渙rganized naval and air forces to tail and stand guard against the US ship鈥檚 passage throughout the entire process.鈥�
Chinese troops 鈥渁re on constant high alert to resolutely defend national sovereignty,鈥� it said in a statement.
A Canadian Halifax-class frigate conducted last month 鈥渁 routine transit through the Taiwan Strait,鈥� a move condemned by the Chinese military.
Beijing has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in recent years, upping the rhetoric of 鈥渦nification鈥� being 鈥渋nevitable.鈥�
In response, Taiwan has strengthened economic and political ties with its partners 鈥� most notably the United States, its biggest weapons provider 鈥� while increasing its defense budget.
On Thursday, the island鈥檚 cabinet approved a record-high defense budget of NT$647 billion ($20.2 billion) for next year, an increase of six percent compared to 2024.
President Lai Ching-te said this month that the budget reflected Taiwan鈥檚 鈥渄etermination to improve our self-defense capabilities... to ensure peace and prosperity.鈥�
The amount would still need to be scrutinized and approved by Taiwan鈥檚 fractious parliament, where Lai鈥檚 Democratic Progressive Party no longer holds a majority.