China’s military on Wednesday condemned the United States after another US warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, saying such operations “deliberately” harm peace and stability.
For its part, the US Navy considered that the guided-missile destroyer Samson made “normal transit through the Taiwan Strait”, on Tuesday, in violation of international law.
The United States conducts such sailings at least once a month.
On April 15, China announced that it had conducted exercises around Taiwan, while a US delegation was visiting the island, in a move the People’s Liberation Army said was aimed at the “wrong signals” sent by the United States.
China Central Television, citing Shi Yilu, a spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command, said the Chinese army has sent frigates, bombers and combat aircraft to the East China Sea and the area around Taiwan.
“This operation is a response to the repeated sending of false signals by the United States regarding Taiwan recently,” Xi said.