Two US Navy ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, the third such operation this year and one that is sure to anger China.

Lieutenant Rachel McMarr, a spokeswoman for the US Pacific Fleet, said the destroyer USS Stockdale and oiler USNS Pecos sailed through the strait in a "routine" transit.

"The ships' transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," McMarr said in a statement.

"The US Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows."

Beijing protested after the US Navy sailed two warships through the Taiwan Strait on October 22, characterizing the move as an affront to its sovereignty.

China still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949.

A US official told AFP that Chinese ships had asserted a "presence" during Wednesday's sailing, but all interactions between the two navies were "safe and professional."

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Mattis notes stability of Western Hemisphere at command change ceremony
Washington (UPI) Nov 27, 2018
Secretary of Defense James Mattis presided over the change of command ceremony for U.S. Southern Command, from Adm. Kurt W. Tidd to Adm. Craig S. Faller, saying the command has played a key role in fostering relationships in the Western Hemisphere. At the ceremony, held Monday in Miami, where Southcom is based, Mattis talked about the work done by the command to help people in the region. "There is more in this hemisphere that binds us together than drives us apart," the secretary said a ... read more