A US warship passed through the Taiwan Strait on May 8, less than two weeks before Taiwan's new president takes office. This was sharply condemned by China, reports "Reuters".
China claims sovereignty over democratically-ruled Taiwan and says it has jurisdiction over the strait. Taiwan and the United States claim that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway.
US warships and occasionally US Navy patrol aircraft pass through or over the strait about once a month.
On May 20, the newly elected president of Taiwan Lai Ching-te, whom China considers a dangerous separatist, takes office.
The US Navy's 7th Fleet said the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey made a "routine transit through the Taiwan Strait" on May 8 "through waters where freedom of navigation and overflight on the high seas is exercised in accordance with international law".
The Chinese military described the sailing as a "public uproar", adding that it had dispatched naval and air forces to monitor and warn the US ship during its voyage and "deal with it in accordance with law and regulations" .
"The troops are always on high alert and will resolutely protect national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability," said a statement from the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army.
We recall that on May 2, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said that 15 Chinese military aircraft, including Su-30 fighter jets, were detected near the island nation for the second time within a week.
According to the ministry, the planes were carrying out "joint patrols for combat readiness" with Chinese warships around Taiwan.