US destroyer passes through Taiwan Strait

The US destroyer John Finn passed through the Taiwan Strait, and the Chinese military dispatched forces to monitor the entire process.

"The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn conducted a routine transit of the Taiwan Strait on March 5," the US Navy's 7th Fleet announced.

The 7th Fleet said the voyage took place in an area "not within the territorial sea of any nation, where all nations enjoy freedoms of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea consistent with international law related to those freedoms."

Chinese officials later criticized the US destroyer's trip, calling it "hyped propaganda." The Chinese military dispatched warships and aircraft to monitor the entire journey of the US warship through the Taiwan Strait, and declared that they "always remain on high alert to deal with threats."

The US destroyer USS John Finn passed through the Taiwan Strait on March 5. Photo: US Navy — The US destroyer USS John Finn passed through the Taiwan Strait on March 5. Photo: *US Navy*

Taiwan's defense agency said on the same day that it had monitored the voyage of the destroyer John Finn and "activities in the waters and airspace around the island," and assessed the situation in the area as normal.

The John Finn's voyage came on the same day China opened its National People's Congress (NPC), its parliament. China announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget this year, to more than $230 billion, the second-highest in the world after the United States.

China has long claimed the Taiwan Strait is "not international waters" but part of its exclusive economic zone, arguing that foreign military vessels are restricted from operating in the area.

The US and several allied countries have repeatedly sent warships or official vessels through the Taiwan Strait, a move that has been opposed by China but is often not prevented on the ground.

China has always considered Taiwan a province awaiting reunification and has declared its readiness to use force if necessary. US leaders acknowledge the "One China" principle, but still maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan and provide the island with many weapons and military supplies.