US Navy Ship Sails Through Taiwan Strait

An American warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy and Taiwanese authorities said Thursday, triggering concern in Beijing.

The transit came as China, which views Taiwan as a renegade province, unveiled a defence white paper on Wednesday stressing its willingness to use force to thwart any move towards the self-ruled island's independence, and accusing the United States of undermining global stability.

According to the US Navy's Seventh Fleet, the USS Antietam, a guided-missile cruiser, conducted a routine transit through the narrow waterway separating the Chinese mainland and Taiwan during July 24-25.

The transit "demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific", the fleet said in a statement.

"The US Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows."

American warships periodically conduct navigation exercises in the waterway, sparking angry responses from China.

But Beijing's reaction to the latest sail-by was relatively restrained, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying saying China had "expressed its concerns to the American side".

"The Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive issue in Sino-American relations," Hua said.

She said China urges the United States to respect the "One China" principle, and "treat Taiwanese issues with care and diligence so as not to undermine Sino-American relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait".

Beijing lodged a protest with Washington in May after a US destroyer and a supply ship sailed through the strait. (AFP)