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US coastguard vessel visits Hong Kong flying a flag of friendship, but Beijing protests Taiwan Strait journey amid trade war tension
- The Bertholf makes the second port call by a US military ship in six months
- Ship’s operations near Taiwan described as ‘provocative’ US action
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A US coastguard vessel that sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait in late March has made a port call in Hong Kong despite protests from Beijing about the warship transiting the strategic waterway.
Experts said the Chinese government’s decision to approve the local visit indicated its priority was on keeping relations stable to secure a deal with Washington to end the protracted US-China trade war.
Flying a Chinese national flag in a show of friendship, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf moored at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Ocean Terminal on Sunday in the second Hong Kong port call by an American warship in six months.
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On March 24 and 25, the 127-metre (418-foot) vessel sailed through the strait for the first time together with a guided-missile destroyer. The waterway constitutes international waters but the move nevertheless drew diplomatic protests for China against the “provocative” US action.
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The Chinese foreign ministry “lodged a representation to the US” and urged the country to “abide by the one China principle and … handle Taiwan-related issues in a prudent and proper manner, so as not to harm China-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
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