US criticizes China’s navy for unsafe actions in Taiwan Strait

The US Indo-Pacific Command has accused the Chinese navy of executing unsafe manoeuvres near an American destroyer that transited through the Taiwan Strait. This incident occurred on Saturday and was the second close encounter between the American and Chinese militaries in the Asia Pacific region in less than 10 days. The US Indo-Pacific Command stated that the Chinese ship executed unsafe manoeuvres in the vicinity of Chung-Hoon, an American destroyer, during the Saturday transit. The US military added that it operates safely and responsibly anywhere international law allows. The Chinese military said it had monitored the passage but made no mention of a close encounter. Taiwan’s defence ministry said the two ships sailed in a northerly direction through the strait and that it had observed nothing unusual. US warships frequently sail through the strait. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has ramped up military and political pressure on the island in recent years.