The Navy said the guided missile destroyer Mellis passed through the Taiwan Strait as usual in international waters in accordance with international law.On Tuesday, a U.S. ship crossed the Taiwan Strait route again, which the U.S. military called a normal activity, but any such action is traditionally offensive to China, which thinks it is only on Washington's side. Is seeking to escalate regional tensions.
The U.S. Navy says the guided missile destroyer Mellis "passed through the Taiwan Strait as usual" in international waters in accordance with international law, according to Reuters.
The Navy added: "The ship's passage through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US military flies, sends and operates wherever international law allows. "
There was no immediate reaction from China.
Last month, the Chinese military condemned the United States and Canada for sending warships across the Taiwan Strait, saying they were a threat to peace and stability in the region.
China claims democratically elected Taiwan as its own territory, and has repeatedly sent air force missions to Taiwan's air defense zone over the past year or so, which Taipei has condemned. ۔
Like most countries, the United States has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but it is its most important international supporter and arms supplier.Beijing considers Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with Washington.
U.S. Navy ships pass through the Taiwan Strait almost every month, which could provoke Beijing. US allies also occasionally send ships through the Taiwan Strait, as Britain did in September.
On the other hand, according to the AFP news agency, China warned the Taiwanese firms against supporting the independence of the island.
According to Chinese state media, mainland regulators have fined a group in Iwan because of rising tensions between Taipei and Beijing.
Analysts say the move could increase economic pressure on Taiwanese companies operating in China and local firms investing in them.
Military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan has increased since President Xi Jinping's 2016 election, as he sees the island as "already independent" and not part of "one China."
