TAIPEI, Taiwan _ American Navy vessels sailed through the disputed Taiwan Strait, the U.S.'s first known show of force in the area since November.
The warships sailed north through the strait on Thursday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement. It's the U.S. Navy's fourth passage since July last year, the island's Central News Agency reported. An October sail-by prompted China to "express concern" to the U.S.
Chinese aircraft, including H-6 bombers and KJ-500 airborne early warning and control systems, also flew from the mainland Thursday through the Bashi Channel for far-sea training before returning to their base via the same route, Taiwan's defense ministry said.
"This routine transit through international waters of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Colonel Christopher Logan said in the CNA report. "The U.S. will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows."
The U.S. vessels' transit comes during a period of rising tension between Taiwan and China, which considers the island one of its provinces. Since the election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen from a pro-independence party in 2016, Beijing has cut off formal communication with Taipei and stepped up military exercises in the area.
