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Two US warships sailed Monday in the international waters of the Taiwan Strait, the body of water separating China from Taiwan, the island island that China considers a separatist province.
Transit could increase tensions between the United States and China as both countries are involved in a trade dispute and the United States expresses concern over the militarization of the South China Sea by China.
"USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) and USS Antietam (CG 54) carried out a routine operation in the Taiwan Strait on October 22 in accordance with international law," said Cmdr. Nate Christensen, deputy spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet. "
"The transit of ships through the Taiwan Strait testifies to the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," he added. "The US Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits."
A similar transit by two American destroyers took place in July, the navy making for the first time a mission of this type for more than a year.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense first confirmed the transit in a statement.
"The Department of National Defense today said that two US ships had sailed from south to north through the Taiwan Strait," said a translation of the statement.
"The Department of National Defense pointed out that the US ship was regularly passing through the international waters of the Taiwan Strait and that the relevant details were explained by the US government," he added.
While the United States and China are cooperating for the denuclearization of North Korea, tensions have increased as the United States and China have engaged in a trade war.
China's growing military presence on the artificial islands of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea is also causing tension.
Earlier this month, a Chinese naval vessel arrived within 45 meters of the destroyer USS Decatur in the United States Navy while making a free passage in international waters close to these islands.
US support for Taiwan is another irritant in US-China relations. The United States continues to sell weapons of war to the island, even if it does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China maintains that Taiwan is a separatist province and not an independent nation.
