Washington: Our military operates anywhere international law allows

A U.S. destroyer crosses the Taiwan Strait. China's military is on alert

The destroyer USS Mileus in one of the areas of operation of the United States Seventh Fleet. Reuters

The Eastern Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army described the passage of the US destroyer USS Mileus as a "propaganda act," noting that it tracked the passage of the ship through the Taiwan Strait, and Chinese military spokesman Colonel Shi Yi said that the army followed the passage of the US destroyer, and that the forces are at a high level of alert, adding: "Our forces will defend national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability."

In contrast, the US Navy considered the warship's crossing of the strait as a "routine" crossing, and the US Navy's Seventh Fleet said in a statement that the warship, equipped with guided missiles, made a routine crossing through the Taiwan Strait, where freedom of navigation on the high seas and flying over it applies in accordance with international law.

The ship's transit demonstrates the United States' commitment to making the Indo-Pacific free and open, the statement said, adding that "the U.S. military flies, sails and operates wherever international law allows."

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said that while the destroyer was passing the destroyer, the military closely monitored activity in the sea and air perimeter, and the situation was normal.

China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, officially ended a three-day exercise around Taiwan in the middle of last week, which included simulated hitting specific targets and imposing a blockade on the island.

China held the military drills to express anger over Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as interference in China's internal affairs.

Last week, the USS Mileus sailed near Meshev Reef, one of the most important Chinese-controlled islands in the South China Sea, which Beijing called illegal.

Beijing has expressed displeasure with any official contact between Taipei and foreign governments, and on the final day of last week's drills, Taiwan's defence ministry said 54 Chinese jets had crossed the strait's halfway.

The Group of Seven major industrialized nations warned against any attempt to change the international order by force in light of Russia's war in Ukraine and growing Chinese influence.

Group of Seven foreign ministers discussed the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said: "We will strongly reject any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force."

A delegation of members of the French National Assembly arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a four-day visit amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait. The visit came after French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe should avoid getting bogged down in tensions in the strait.

The delegation included four legislators, Eric Pothorell, Michel Herbion, Mireille Claboot and Constance Le Grib, and Pothurell said: "What we want to say to Taiwan is that if something happens to it it will change the world. We believe that we have to maintain freedom of travel and movement in this place."

• The Group of Seven warns against any attempt to change the international system by force.