Shortly after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his trip to Beijing, which included a meeting with Xi Jinping, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, the Stratton, journeyed through the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet characterized the June 20th transit as routine, emphasizing that it occurred in international waters where freedom of navigation and overflight are recognized under international law. The specific route taken by the Stratton was outside any coastal state's territorial sea.
This transit underscores the long-standing disagreement between China and the U.S. regarding the strait's status. China asserts the strait falls within its exclusive economic zone. However, the U.S. and its allies regularly traverse the waterway, asserting its international status. The Navy's statement highlighted the transit as a demonstration of the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, reiterating the military's right to operate wherever international law permits.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense confirmed the Stratton's northwards passage and reported that their monitoring of the situation revealed no unusual activity. In contrast, the Chinese coast guard labeled the transit as "public hype" and stated that their vessels shadowed the Stratton throughout its passage. They further declared their intention to intensify patrols in waters they claim jurisdiction over to protect their national sovereignty and maritime interests.
This incident follows increased military activity by China around Taiwan in recent times, coinciding with strained U.S.-China relations. Taiwan has reported near-daily Chinese military presence in the strait. China continues to claim Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert its control. This latest transit also comes on the heels of a recent incident where the U.S. military released footage of a Chinese naval vessel executing what they deemed an unsafe maneuver near a U.S. destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, forcing the American ship to take evasive action.
