On May 9, 2024, the USS Halsey (DDG-97), a Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy, passed through the Taiwan Strait as part of a routine mission. Vice Minister of National Defense, Xu Yanpu, stated on the 9th that the Taiwanese military was fully aware of the passage of the American vessel through the Taiwan Strait and that the situation was normal. The Ministry of National Defense expressed its support for actions that contribute to regional peace and stability.
The U.S. Navy announced on the 8th that the USS Halsey, a Burke-class guided missile destroyer under the Seventh Fleet, passed through the Taiwan Strait as part of a routine operation. It emphasized that the USS Halsey enjoyed the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight in the waters adjacent to Taiwan under international law, and the passage of the vessel did not infringe on the territorial waters of any coastal state.
However, according to the information released by the Ministry of National Defense on the 9th regarding the maritime and airspace activities in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait, a total of 23 instances of Chinese military aircraft and 5 Chinese military vessels were detected operating around the Taiwan Strait from 6:00 a.m. on the 8th to 6:00 a.m. on the 9th. Among them, 7 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the strait and entered the southwest airspace of Taiwan. Additionally, a Chinese military helicopter was spotted at a distance of 86 nautical miles from Cape Eluanbi.
In response to these developments, Xu Yanpu stated during a media interview at the Legislative Yuan on the 9th that the U.S. has clarified that this was a freedom of navigation operation. The Taiwanese military closely monitored the passage of the American vessel through the Taiwan Strait in real time, and the situation was deemed normal. Support was also expressed for actions that contribute to regional peace and stability.
Regarding the timing of the U.S. vessel’s transit of the Taiwan Strait shortly before the presidential transition on May 20, Xu Yanpu dismissed speculations, stating that it was simply a routine freedom of navigation operation as indicated by the U.S. When asked about China’s potential increased provocations around May 20, Xu Yanpu reiterated that the Ministry of National Defense maintains surveillance and is prepared to make timely announcements about various situations in the Taiwan Strait.
Furthermore, in a recent statement by former U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Chief, John Aquilino, regarding possible Chinese provocations towards Taiwan and the Kinmen area around May 20, Xu Yanpu emphasized that the Ministry of National Defense continuously monitors the situations around the Taiwan Strait through various intelligence gathering means and will respond appropriately. As of now, the security situation remains stable and normal in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait.