U.S. Navy's Taiwan Strait Passage Sparks Tensions

Two U.S. Navy ships, the destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson and the survey ship Bowditch, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, causing tensions with China, which claims the strait as its own. The U.S. mission drew criticism from China for increasing security risks amidst ongoing sovereignty disputes.

In a move drawing ire from China, two U.S. Navy ships navigated the contentious Taiwan Strait, marking the first such voyage since President Donald Trump began his term. China, asserting the strait as its territory, reacted strongly, citing elevated security concerns.

The transit, confirmed by the U.S. Navy, involved the destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson and the survey ship Bowditch, as they traversed the strait from Monday to Wednesday. Accompanied by occasional allied ships, the U.S. Navy passes through this critical waterway monthly, a practice China fervently opposes.

China's military, responding with surveillance measures, emphasized the perceived threat through a statement by the Eastern Theatre Command. Meanwhile, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te continues to reject China's sovereignty claims, advocating for Taiwanese self-determination.

(With inputs from agencies.)