China slams US, UK warships’ passage through Taiwan Strait

China strongly condemned the passage of US and British warships through the Taiwan Strait, shortly after announcing that its newest aircraft carrier had completed a transit through the same waterway.

“On September 12, the US destroyer Higgins and the UK frigate Richmond sailed through the Taiwan Strait, engaging in disturbance and provocation,” said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command, in a statement Friday.

He added that Chinese naval and air forces were dispatched to track and monitor the vessels, stressing that such actions “undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and claims jurisdiction over the strait, while the US, UK, and other nations maintain that the waterway constitutes international waters open to all vessels.

China also confirmed that its latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, had passed through the strait to conduct trials ahead of entering service.

The transit comes a week after Australian and Canadian warships also sailed through the strait, prompting similar criticism from Beijing.

China has in recent years intensified military, economic, and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan, repeatedly warning it has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Taiwan’s defense ministry, meanwhile, continues to report regular sightings of Chinese warships, drones, and fighter jets around its waters.

On Saturday, the Taiwanese defence ministry said it had detected 31 Chinese military aircraft and 13 Chinese naval vessels around the island since early Friday — the highest number in a 24-hour period since May.

The ministry said “25 out of 31 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central and southwestern ADIZ”, referring to the island’s air defence identification zone.

“We have monitored the situation and responded,” it added.