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China said on Tuesday that it had expressed to the United States its concern over what it saw as an attack on its sovereignty after crossing two US warships in the Taiwan Strait.
This decision adds to the increasingly tense relations between the two countries, which have clashed on a number of issues, including trade, Beijing's land claims in the South China Sea and human rights violations. man in Xinjiang.
Monday was the second time in the space of three months that American warships were conducting "freedom of navigation" exercises in the Taiwan Strait, a 180-km-wide stretch of water separating the mainland Chinese Autonomous Democratic Island.
Beijing "expressed concern in the United States" because "the Taiwan question is about China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters. from a regular press point.
Hua said Beijing has asked Washington to "scrupulously respect the one-China principle" and "carefully manage Taiwan-related issues in an appropriate manner."
China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, although both sides have been governed separately since the end of the civil war on the continent in 1949.
Colonel Rob Manning of the US Department of Defense told reporters that the USS Curtis Wilbur and the USS Antietam were making a routine transit to demonstrate the US's commitment to the United States. A free and open Indo-Pacific ".
Several Chinese warships observed the two US ships during transit, followed at a safe distance, CNN officials told US defense officials.
Beijing recently conducted a series of military maneuvers, including a live fire exercise in the Taiwan Strait in April, declaring its willingness to confront Taiwan's "forces of independence".
Washington remains Taipei's most powerful unofficial ally and main arms supplier, despite the transfer of diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979.
The Trump administration has sought to tighten ties with the island by announcing last month its intention to sell $ 330 million worth of spare parts for several aircraft, including the F-16 fighter and the C-130 freighter.
Taiwan's Prime Minister William Lai said in a parliamentary session on Tuesday that Taiwan respected the US right of way in international waters and acknowledged "the various efforts of the United States to maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific region." Peaceful".
The Taiwan Defense Ministry said in a previous statement that the military "closely monitors American warships during their passage".
The USS Curtis Wilbur and the USS Antietam (photo) proceeded to a routine transit in the Taiwan Strait to demonstrate US commitment "in favor of an Indo -Pacific free and open, "announced the US military.
