China People’s Liberation Army lashed out at the United States on Thursdayas the American destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur passed through the TaiwanStrait.
The spokesman for the Chinese military has accused Americans in a statementof undermining the regional “peace and stability” as the US Navy wascarrying out that it described as “routine transit”.
In turn, the US Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a statement that USS Curtis hadconducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit in accordance with internationallaw and that the vessel’s transit through the strait demonstrates the UScommitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The US military will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhereinternational law allows, the Navy’s 7th Fleet added.
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On 22 January, China passed a law empowering its navy to use force againstforeign vessels in the waters that it considers its sovereign, whichincludes parts of East China Sea under Japan’s sovereignty claims. TheUnited States is strongly opposed to China’s increased military presence inthe disputed waters, considering it a strategic threat to itself and itsregional allies.
Beijing claims the South China Sea is its sovereign territory and has builtmilitary bases on artificially created islands. The country has also claimsfor disputed territories in the East China Sea. The United States views theSouth China Sea as an international waterway and sends warships toroutinely patrol the waterways in so-called freedom of navigation exercises.
