[cba123]

Just a note, from the article:

"It was the first time since July 2017 that a U.S. warship transited the strait. USS Mustin is part of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier strike group, which has been patrolling the South China Sea in recent weeks."

Two ships.

Seems like a carefully gauged, mild escalation.

Maybe.

[cba123]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/07/07/two-us-warships-sail-through-taiwan-strait-amid-china-trade-war-officials.html

[BenLurkin]

Are these not international waters?

[tomkat]

.. according to three U.S. defense officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media

marvelous

[11th_VA]

39 years ago, I was on the USS Chicago, probably two days out from landing in Taiwan. Jimmy Carter then announced the closing of the Taiwan embassy and riots broke out in Taiwan. We never anchored, and I’m pretty sure no US Navy ships have either since.

[ro_dreaming]

were there any container ships nearby?

[Tai_Chung]

This is good news!

[Tallguy]

Considering the trade impasse, the timing of the Freedom of Navigation exercise makes Generalissimo Xi look really weak. He’s already made himself “Dictator for Life” so I’m not sure what else he can do to persuade his inner circle that he’s the Man with the Plan.