The Chinese Communist Party's most recent aggressiveness, this time directed against a U.S. ship, was "unsafe," according to the U.S. military, which made the statement during a Saturday possibly deadly encounter in international waters in the Taiwan Strait.
The USS Chung-Hoon, escorted by Canada's HMCS Montreal, was undertaking "a routine south to north Taiwan Strait transit" on June 3 "in accordance with international law," according to the USS Chung-Hoon. The United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) issued a statement late Saturday.
The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) guided-missile destroyer, the People's Liberation Army-Navy's Luyang III DDG 132, "overtook Chung-Hoon on their port side and crossed their bow at 150 yards," according to the command, forcing the US guided-missile destroyer to slow to 10 knots to "avoid a collision."
“[China’s] actions violated the maritime ‘Rules of the Road’ of safe passage in international waters,” the command said.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and the Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Montreal, both members of the US 7th Fleet, went through the Strait in compliance with international agreements governing free seas, according to the US military.
"The ships transit through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State," stated the 7th Fleet in a statement. "The bilateral transit of Chung-Hoon and Montreal through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' and our allies' and partners' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."
“Cooperation like this represents the centerpiece of our approach to a secure and prosperous region where aircraft and ships of all nations may fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.”
The CCP's military justified its actions, claiming that the transit was sending the "wrong signal" and that the matter was "handled" in conformity with Chinese regime law and rules.
"The countries concerned deliberately create incidents in the Taiwan Strait region, deliberately provoke risks, maliciously undermine regional peace and stability, and send the wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' forces," China's People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement late Saturday.
Tan Kefei, a spokeswoman for China's Ministry of National Defense, cited statements by Chinese Defense Minister Li Shang during a closed-door meeting with Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen on Saturday, clearly naming who it deems "Taiwan independence" troops.
“China will never tolerate any attempt by the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to ‘solicit foreign support’ while seeking ‘Taiwan independence,’ nor will it accept any efforts by external forces to ‘utilize Taiwan to contain China,’” Tan said.
Historically, the CCP has blamed "separatist forces" for Taiwan's failure to submit to communist authority. Taiwan is a liberal democracy with self-government.
However, the CCP is trying to gain influence in Taiwan's internal politics ahead of the 2024 general election. Vice President Lai Ching-te of the DPP is the only Taiwanese presidential contender who has clearly voiced his opposition to the CCP's authoritarian leadership. He claims to be "anti-CCP, not anti-China."
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said on Twitter late Saturday, “America is not scared of Communist China’s unsafe, unprofessional, and illegal naval actions. The Taiwan Strait is international waters and the U.S. Navy will never be pushed off course by a regime foolishly pretending otherwise.”
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, which monitors movement in the waters and skies around Taiwan, said the US transit on Saturday was routine and informed the CCP that it was the one undermining peace, stability, and security in the region with its "provocative actions."
"Maintaining the peace and stable development of the Taiwan Strait and the region is the shared responsibility of free and democratic countries around the world," the ministry stated. "Any measures that increase tension and danger will not help regional security."
"The Ministry of National Defense urges Chinese authorities to respect the right to free navigation, avoid overly provocative actions, and work together to maintain regional peace, stability, and security."
Once a month, US warships pass the strait's international waters. It is, however, an unusual occurrence for them to do so alongside boats of US allies.
More than 40% of worldwide maritime container traffic travels across the Taiwan Strait, a critical international commerce corridor. It serves as the primary maritime route connecting Europe to China, Japan, and the United States.
