Guided missile destroyer USS McCampbell ( DDG 85)
USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193)
Posted on 01/25/2019 4:20:26 AM PST by csvset
TAIPEI (REUTERS) - The United States sent two warships through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday (Jan 24) in the first such operation this year, the Taiwanese government said, as it increases the frequency of transits through the strategic waterway amid tensions with China.
The voyage risks further heightening tensions with China, which considers Taiwan its own and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.
Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement late on Thursday the ships were moving in a northerly direction and that their voyage was in accordance with regulations.
It said Taiwan closely monitored the operation to "ensure the security of the seas and regional stability".
US Pacific Fleet spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman told CNN that the guided missile destroyer USS McCampbell and the USNS Walter S. Diehl "conducted a routine Taiwan Strait Transit" that was "in accordance with international law".
The move will likely be viewed in Taiwan as a sign of support from US President Donald Trump's government amid growing friction between Taipei and Beijing.
China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the United States to abide by its “one China”principle.
Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks at a regular briefing, adding that China closely followed the US warships’ passage through the Strait.
China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since President Tsai Ing-wen, from the pro-independence ruling party, took office in 2016. It has regularly sent military aircraft and ships to circle the island on drills in the past few years.
Beijing sent several bombers and aircraft through the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, earlier on Thursday, Taiwan's defence ministry said in a separate statement.
A similar Chinese operation was conducted on Tuesday, the ministry said, and both were monitored closely.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said in early January China reserves the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control. In response, Tsai vowed to defend the island's democracy and called for international support to protect Taiwan's way of life.
Trump recently signed into law the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act reaffirming the US commitment to Taiwan, including arms sales.
Washington has no formal ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to help it defend itself and is its main source of arms.
USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193)
Outstanding! The US Navy and Air Force should be conducting routine flyovers and “sail-bys” in the region in international airspace and waters.Taiwan is an independent and sovereign nation and those artificial islands that the Butchers of Beijing are building in the South China Sea have no legal status and therefore we can fly over them and sail by them at will.
China, which considers Taiwan its own >>>>>
You mean just like China considers Chinatown in San Francisco and the Gold Coast in Australia their own.
They can take their Peking Duck back to Shanghai and take it for a long walk off a short pier.
So much for China’s “hegemony!”
FREE TIBET!
Which Leftist publication will be the first to use the term “gunboat diplomacy?” The New York Times has to be the clear favorite. Washington Post is only contender with a chance.
Thank you for posting the images of both vessels and the map, csvset!
The need the Great White Fleet to go on another world wide cruise complete with there Blue angels.
“FREE TIBET!”
Funny story. I was walking the parking lot where I worked and reading the liberal bumper stickers. There were a lot of Coexist and save the whale type stickers. Then, there was a FREE TIBET sticker on the back of a van owned by a known liberal idiot. (But I repeat myself.) So, I asked him about it. He told me about the process by which he had chosen his “statement.” (That’s right. He was choosing which liberal statement to make with his bumper sticker.) He had looked at all the other bumper stickers and carefully chose one that nobody else had so he could “stand out.” I asked him if he knew what had happened to Tibet to make it a liberal cause célèbre. He said, “no.”
Okay then...
Thats about the level of Ocassional Cortex too. LOL/ Great Story.
But as you know over 2 million innocent Tobetan civillians and monks were slaughtered by the Red Army to conquer Tibet. And I know some Tibetans personally who had to leave Tibet for freedom. My friend walked out with a group of 200 , took 2 years before he made it out walking through desolate Himalayan Mountain passes to avoid the Red Army.
In Surmang, the Red Army lined up harmless monks and machine gunned them in genocidal massacre, and forced peasant villagers to execute their Lamas who were their spiritual leaders. Most people do not realize what happened back in 1858-1964.
I am glad that Trump is holding the Red Chinese foot to the fire. They earned that and more.
“FREE TIBET” for me is similar to “Remember the Alamo!”
Back in late 50s, early 60s, transiting the ‘Taiwan Straits’ would earn one an AFEM (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal) as it was considered a ‘war zone’ (well maybe could get hot).
Dependent on where you were coming from (Subic Bay?) to Hong Kong, you had to transit the Straits.
Oh, nice headline 2 WARSHIPS.... guess it sounds better than saying a tanker & a Destroyer passed through the area.<: <: <:
Oh, nice headline 2 WARSHIPS.... guess it sounds better than saying a tanker & a Destroyer passed through the area.<: <: <:
Has any US Warship ever passed through this straight before?
Taiwan Strait Patrol was fun in ‘69, ‘70 and ‘71 because it meant liberty in Keelung or Kaosiung. Usually just us and another tin can. By the way, I thought the USNS ships had no guns. Not much of a warship, is it?
Two warships passed through the Straits of Taiwan.
Well maybe there were a few unseen warships there as well.Submarines.
Good point.
You might want to read the first line. The ships are also ID early on.
Yes, and we were involved in 1958.
Quemoy-Matsu-Taiwan Straits
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