China warns of increased combat readiness due to US ships in Taiwan Strait

The Chinese military said it was watching the US Navy cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville as they sailed through the Taiwan Strait. transmits Reuters. The Chinese armed forces have warned that they remain on high combat readiness and are ready to repel any provocations.

US ships on Sunday made a “routine passage through the Taiwan Strait” in accordance with international law, the agency writes, citing the US Navy.

“These (US) ships transited through a corridor in a strait that is outside the territorial sea of ​​any coastal state,” the Navy said.

It is noted that this passage was the first such operation since the visit to Taiwan of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. The US Navy said that “such operations typically take eight to twelve hours and are closely monitored by the Chinese military.” In recent years, warships from the United States, as well as from Britain and Canada, have “regularly passed through the strait, drawing China’s wrath,” according to Reuters.

Representative of the Eastern Zone Combat Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA), Senior Colonel Shi Yi declaredthat the Chinese army closely monitored all movements of the destroyers Antietam and Chancellorsville in the region.

“The troops of the combat command zone maintain high combat readiness and are ready to thwart any provocation at any time,” the WeChat messenger posted on the official page.

Reuters, citing the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, also writes that the ships were heading south, monitoring was carried out, and this situation was called normal in the department.

Relations between China and the United States deteriorated after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island. She arrived in Taiwan on August 2 despite Chinese protest. According to the politician, in this way she decided to testify to the US support for democracy in Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan to be its province, so the PRC government opposes any contacts between the island’s administration and countries with which Beijing has diplomatic relations. China has repeatedly noted that it will take “serious measures” to protect the sovereignty of the country and its territorial integrity.