US warship sails though Taiwan Strait for second time in a month

A US warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait for the second time in a month, the militaries from Taiwan and the United States said on Friday, amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China and as a Chinese aircraft carrier passes near the island.

China, which considers Taiwan its own, has been angered by the Trump administration’s increased support for the island, such as more arms sales, US patrols and a February visit to Washington by Vice President-elect William Lai.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said the US warship travelled through the narrow Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China in a southerly direction and was continuing to sail south.

Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the ship which it described as being on an “ordinary mission”, the ministry added, without providing further details.

Lieutenant Anthony Junco, a US Seventh Fleet spokesman, named the ship involved as the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry and said it had conducted a “routine Taiwan Strait transit” in accordance with international law.

“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows,” he said.

Two weeks ago the USS Barry also sailed through the strait, on the same day that Chinese fighter jets took part in drills close to the island.

Taiwan said on Thursday that a Chinese aircraft carrier group had sailed to its south through the Bashi Channel that sits between Taiwan and the Philippines and was heading east.

The carrier group earlier this month sailed down Taiwan’s east coast. China said at the time it was on its way to routine exercises in the disputed South China Sea.

China has carried out frequent drills near Taiwan in recent months, including flying fighter jets and nuclear-capable bombers close to the island, in moves denounced by Taipei’s government as attempts at intimidation.