Taipei Taiwan, August 28 : Two US Navy warships were sailing southward through the strategically important Taiwan Strait for the first time since the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that was harshly condemned by China.The cruisers with guided missiles USS Antietam as well as USS Chancellorsville were operating on an “routine” mission in international waters according to the US Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a statement issued on Sunday.
“The ship’s journey through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States in its commitment to an open and free Indo-Pacific.The United States military flies, sails, and operates wherever the law of the international community allows,” dpa news agency quoted the statement.
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said it was closely watching both ships.
The move is the first time of US warships following the visit in the middle of August by Pelosi who was in charge of an Congressional team to the island democracy that is self-governed.
The visit was brief, in which Pelosi declared Washington’s support attracted the criticism of the Chinese leadership in Beijing who see Taiwan as a separate province which will eventually be brought back with mainland China.
In response to the Chinese military’s response, the Chinese military launched massive maneuvers in the vicinity of Taiwan.
On Friday the foreign minister of Taiwan, Joseph Wu, said China’s decision to conduct military exercises near Taiwan was a bid to prevent the Taiwan Strait from being used for international waters.
“That type of exercises is a violation of the status that is in place,” Wu said.
Taiwan has been governed by an independent , self-governing government since 1949.However, China considers Taiwan to be a democratic as part of its territory and is opposed to any type of official relations between Taiwan and China.
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