**China Warns US Against Further Provocative Actions in Taiwan Strait**
China on Monday blamed the United States for “stirring up trouble” in the Taiwan Strait after two US warships sailed through the waterway in a freedom of navigation operation.
The US Navy said the USS Chung-Hoon and the HMCS Regina, a Canadian warship, sailed through the strait on Saturday in accordance with international law. The ships traveled through the strait from south to north, passing within 12 nautical miles of the Chinese-controlled Pratas Islands.
China’s Eastern Theater Command said its forces monitored the passage of the US and Canadian warships and “took necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and security.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the US warship’s passage through the Taiwan Strait was “a deliberate provocation” and that China had “every right to take necessary measures.”
The US has sailed warships through the Taiwan Strait regularly in recent years, in a show of support for Taiwan and to challenge China’s claims to sovereignty over the island. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.
The latest warship encounter comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and the United States over a range of issues, including trade, technology, and human rights. The two countries have also been engaged in a military buildup in the Asia-Pacific region.
The US and its allies have warned China against using force against Taiwan. The US has also said it would come to Taiwan’s defense if it were attacked by China.
The Taiwan Strait is a vital shipping lane and is considered a potential flashpoint for conflict between China and the United States. The US has said it is committed to ensuring the freedom of navigation in the strait.
The latest warship encounter is a reminder of the tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the potential for conflict between China and the United States.
