Expert: China monitored US warships in Taiwan Strait

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01:27

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) must have kept a close watch as two US warships passed through the Taiwan Strait over the weekend, Chinese experts told Global Times while a US Navy official confirmed the movement of their vessels.

The PLA Navy must have monitored the entire situation and had it under control, the Chinese military expert told Global Times on Saturday. The official requested not to be named.

Meanwhile, Reuters news agency on Sunday cited a US Pacific Fleet spokesman who confirmed that the two US warships sailed through the Strait.

“Two US Navy ships conducted a routine transit through the international waters of the Taiwan Strait on July 7-8 (local time)," Captain Charlie Brown said.

"US Navy Ships transit between the South China Sea and East China Sea via the Taiwan Strait and have done so for many years," he added.

U.S. destroyer USS Benfold (L) and U.S. destroyer USS Mustin (R) are seen in this combination photo from in Pacific Ocean, June 15, 2018 and Feb. 19, 2018 respectively. /Reuters Photo

Earlier on Saturday, the Taipei-based Liberty Times newspaper reported that the two US warships that sailed through the Strait were Burke Class Destroyers USS Mustin and USS Benfold, attributing the information to Taiwan’s “defense ministry”.

Speaking to Global Times, the Chinese military experts said the warships' presence has aggravated tensions across the Taiwan Strait amid a sensitive period concerning the Taiwan question and the China-US trade dispute.

The move is a signal from the US to Taiwan authorities, telling them not to be afraid, the expert noted.

PLA Navy warships conducted an island encirclement exercise around Taiwan last month, as reported by Global Times. In April, China also held a live-fire drill in the Taiwan Strait, the first of its kind since 2016. The PLA on that occasion vowed to deter “Taiwan independence” separatist forces through strong means in order to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This undated picture shows a Chinese navy ship firing an unidentified missile during exercises off the coast of Fujian Province. /VCG Photo‍

"Many signs show that the US is not directing against China in one specific aspect, but on a series of issues," the military expert said.

"The US is launching operations against China that not only involve military and security, but also trade and diplomacy," he said, adding that the US' strategy on China has changed over the past year. The US has labelled China as a "strategic competitor".

Although the Chinese Foreign Ministry hasn’t responded yet to the latest reports of US warships passing through the Taiwan Strait, it had repeatedly emphasized the importance of the Taiwan issue in the context of China-US ties and warned Washington to refrain from taking any action that may jeopardize the relations.

“We have repeatedly emphasized that the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive one sitting at the core of the China-US relationship,” Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on June 5.

“The US should strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the three joint Communiqués and prudently handle the Taiwan issue so as to avoid harming bilateral ties and cross-Strait peace and stability,” she added.

[Cover Photo: US destroyer USS Mustin maneuvers and approaches the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra (not shown) in preparation for a replenishment-at-sea in the Western Pacific, Feb. 19, 2018. /Reuters Photo]

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Source(s): Global Times