The passage of military ships through the Taiwan Strait once again raises tensions between China and Western powers. On October 20, the American destroyer USS Higgins and the Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver passed through this strategic sea lane, reaffirming their commitment to freedom of navigation.
This joint operation comes less than a week after major Chinese military maneuvers around the island of Taiwan. Beijing then deployed its air and naval forces, recalling its determination to reunify the island with the continent, including by force if necessary.
The US Navy described this transit as “ routine“, emphasizing the importance given by Washington and its allies to maintaining the international status of this sea route. However, these regular visits arouse the irritation of China, which considers Taiwan to be a rebel province.
In response to the crossing, the Chinese military’s Eastern Command mobilized its forces to monitor Western ships. The captain Li Xi declared that these movements were disruptive “ peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait“, reflecting the Middle Kingdom’s firm stance on the issue.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense confirmed the passage of ships from the south to the north of the strait, specifying that the situation remained normal in the area. Nonetheless, Taipei reported the presence of 14 Chinese warplanes and 12 Chinese boats in the vicinity over the previous 24 hours, illustrating continued tensions in the region.
This crossing takes place in a context of tense relations between China and Taiwan. Recently, Beijing conducted large-scale military exercises, billed as a “ serious warning ” to ” separatists » Taiwanese. In response, Taiwan increased its vigilance and mobilized its defenses, particularly on the outlying islands.
Swiss
