US Warship Passes Through Taiwan Strait... Sixth Time This Year
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Amid escalating tensions between the US and China over responsibility for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), a US warship has once again passed through the Taiwan Strait, prompting expected backlash from China.
According to Taiwanese media on the 14th, the US Navy posted photos on Facebook early that morning showing the destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) passing through the Taiwan Strait. The US Navy Pacific Fleet announced on the 13th that the destroyer USS McCampbell passed through the 180 km-wide Taiwan Strait, which lies between Taiwan and China, as part of ongoing operations in the Indo-Pacific region. The McCampbell was sailing southward along Taiwan’s west coast, but its specific destination was not disclosed.
The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense also acknowledged the passage of the US Navy destroyer through the Taiwan Strait in a statement that day.
This marks the sixth time this year that a US warship has passed through the Taiwan Strait. In the previous year, US Navy vessels passed through the Taiwan Strait nine times. Since China regards the Taiwan Strait as its "front sea," the frequent passage of US Navy ships through the strait has been perceived by the international community as a "card" used by the US to pressure and provoke China.
In particular, the passage of the US warship through the Taiwan Strait is noteworthy as it occurred just before China’s large-scale military exercises.
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The Chinese People’s Liberation Army began live-fire drills in the maritime area around Tangshan, Hebei Province, on the same day. The exercises will continue for two and a half months until July 31. Additionally, on the 12th, media reports emerged that China plans to conduct large-scale military exercises in August simulating an invasion and occupation of the Dongsha Islands, which are under Taiwan’s effective control. Relations between the US and China have also become increasingly tense due to issues surrounding responsibility for the COVID-19 outbreak and the implementation of the Phase One trade agreement.
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