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PLA on ‘high alert’ after US sends warship through Taiwan Strait
- China’s military says it’s closely monitoring the USS Milius and will ‘resolutely’ safeguard national sovereignty and security
- It was the first such transit by the United States since Taiwan’s leader met the US House speaker, prompting days of PLA drills
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Dewey Simin Singapore
China’s military on Monday said it was closely monitoring and tracking the operations of United States guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius as the vessel transited through the Taiwan Strait.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command, said its troops were on “high alert at all times” and would “resolutely” safeguard China’s national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability.
The comments came as the US Navy said its destroyer had conducted a “routine” transit in the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, which it described as a show of Washington’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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“The United States military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows,” the US Navy Seventh Fleet said.
The US Navy routinely sails warships through the Taiwan Strait around once a month but the Sunday transit was the first since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California earlier this month.
03:10
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, despite Beijing’s warnings
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, despite Beijing’s warnings
Beijing responded to the closely watched meeting by staging three days of military drills around Taiwan, which included simulated precision strikes against key targets on and around the island.
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