As Tensions In Taiwan Come To A Head, US Sends Warships In Disputed Strait

As the tensions between the United States, China, and Taiwan continue to escalate, the United States sent two warships to the Taiwan Strait on Sunday as they reaffirm their commitment to Taiwan after the trip of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Two guided-missile cruisers, named the USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville, were sent to the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the first time that the U.S. has done so since Pelosi’s visit to the state, with the United States using this opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to peace in the area, according to CNN.

“The ships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” a statement from the U.S. Navy said. “The United States military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows.”

The routine sailing through the Taiwan Strait, which the United States has done for years and which sometimes involves allies like the United Kingdom and Canada, has always drawn ire from China. The Eastern Theater Command of China is reportedly monitoring these ships and will respond to “any provocation” from the vessels, the Guardian reported.

“The frequent provocations and showing-off by the US fully demonstrate that the US is the destroyer of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the creator of security risks in the Taiwan Strait,” Col. Shi Yi once said about the United States’ trips through the Strait.

The tension between China and the United States over Taiwan has increased over the weeks after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defied China’s requests and visited the embattled state to reaffirm the United State’s commitment. Since then, Senator Marsha Blackburn also visited Taiwan on Thursday.

China responded to the visits by heightening its alert levels and doing military exercises near the disputed land in a show of force against Taiwan and the United States. China has also been clear that it is willing to use force in order to take over Taiwan.

“I do call on American colleagues to exercise restraint, not to do anything to escalate the tension,” Chinese Ambassador to Washington Qin Gang said. “If there's any move damaging China's territorial integrity and sovereignty, China will respond.”