On Wednesday, May 8th, the US Seventh Fleet announced that the USS Halsey, DDG-970, a destroyer, sailed through the Taiwan Strait. This comes just 12 days before Taiwan’s elected president, Lai Ching-te, is inaugurated.
“This vessel sailed through corridors outside the territorial waters of any coastal country, in accordance with international law on the freedom of navigation and overflight in the high seas,” the US Seventh Fleet stated in a press release.
“The passage of the USS Halsey through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to upholding the principle of freedom of navigation for all countries. No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into relinquishing their rights and freedoms. The US military will operate, sail, and fly wherever international law permits,” the statement said.
The Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) monitored the passage. Spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, Li Xi, mentioned that the troops in the Eastern Theater Command will remain on high alert.
The Chinese government typically protests against US ships passing through the Taiwan Strait, as well as P-8A reconnaissance planes flying over the Taiwan Strait. Last month, the PLA Eastern Theater Command expressed dissatisfaction with a P-8A flying over the Taiwan Strait.
According to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense, as of 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday, there were 6 Chinese warships and 16 aircraft operating near Taiwan.
The USS Halsey’s passage through Taiwan’s waters marks the third time in 2024 that the US Navy has publicly announced a ship transiting the Taiwan Strait. The destroyer USS John Finn, based in Yokosuka, Japan, sailed through the 90-mile wide Taiwan Strait in January and March.
The USS Halsey is based in San Diego Naval Base and is part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group. According to the US Naval Institute News and Fleet and Maritime Tracking reports, as of Monday, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) has been operating in the South China Sea.
John Aquilino, the recently relieved commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, stated during a recent interview with US media that the US policy towards Taiwan has not changed. The US supports peaceful resolution of disputes, ensuring that people on both sides are not threatened. However, the current situation has seen an increase in provocative actions by China in the maritime, aerial, cyber, and information domains, targeting not only Taiwan but also the outlying islands such as Matsu and Kinmen.
President-elect Lai Ching-te is set to be inaugurated on May 20th. Regarding any potential actions from China around the time of May 20th, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense stated on Wednesday that the military is closely monitoring all intelligence information, abiding by strict readiness requirements, and alongside like-minded countries, collectively urging China to maintain peace and stability in the region.