Taiwan Reports Voyage of 2 US Warships Through Taiwan Strait
Taiwan's defense ministry says two U.S. warships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait, in a move likely to spark protests from Beijing.
Taipei, Apr 29 (AP) Taiwan's defense ministry says two U.S. warships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait, in a move likely to spark protests from Beijing.
The ministry said the ships made the passage on Sunday, sailing from south to north through the waterway that divides the self-governing island from mainland China.
Beijing frequently objects to such voyages based on its claim to Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary.
In a statement Monday, the ministry said U.S. ships were free to sail through the Taiwan Strait as part of their "strategic Indo-Pacific tasks."
China last week complained to France after a French warship entered Chinese territorial waters while traversing the Taiwan Strait, and blamed British naval activity in the South China Sea for a downturn in bilateral relations. (AP)
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