US Navy Says Destroyer Sailed Through Taiwan Strait

The US navy said on Thursday it had sailed a guided-missile destroyer through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, a week before Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's inauguration for a second term in office amid rising tensions with Beijing.

Beijing has been angered by the Trump administration's strong support for the island, such as increased arms sales. Sino-US ties have also been buffeted by fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The US Pacific Fleet, in a statement on its Facebook page, said the USS McCampbell had transited the narrow strait that separates Taiwan from the mainland on Wednesday, showing pictures of the ship under way.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said the ship had sailed south on what it termed an "ordinary mission", adding it was continuing in that direction.

Tsai, who will be sworn in for her second and final term next Wednesday, won re-election by a landslide in January, vowing to defend Taiwan's democracy and stand up to Beijing.

Both China and the United States have ramped up military activities near Taiwan in recent months.

Last Friday, Taiwan said a People's Liberation Army air force Y-8 aircraft had briefly crossed into Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone, prompting Taiwanese jets to warn it to leave.

China operates the Y-8 both as a transport and early warning and electronic warfare aircraft.

Taiwan has denounced the drills as attempts at intimidation and has told Beijing it should focus its efforts on fighting the coronavirus rather than menacing the island.

Beijing considers Tsai to be a separatist, charges she strongly denies.

Late next week, the National People's Congress will open its delayed annual meeting, where the government is expected to release its defence budget for the year, a number closely watched around the region as President Xi Jinping oversees a military modernisation plan. (Reuters)