China protests passage of US warships

BEIJING: The Chinese defence ministry on Saturday protested against the passage of two US warships through the Taiwan Strait, saying it had closely monitored them and is maintaining a state of high alert.

The passage comes amid a spike in military tensions in the past two years between Taiwan and China, and follows Chinese “assault drills” held near Taiwan last week for which the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) deployed battle ships and fighter jets.

“The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) and legendclass US Coast Guard National Security Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) conducted routine Taiwan Strait transits August 27 (local time) through international waters in accordance with international law,” Lt Mark Langford, 7th Fleet spokesperson said late on Friday.

“The ships’ lawful transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows,” the statement added.

The Chinese defence minister reacted angrily against the US move on Saturday morning.

A statement posted on the ministry’s website on Saturday called the move provocative.

It added that the passage of the ships showed that the United States is the biggest threat to peace and stability and creator of security risks in the 160km wide Taiwan Strait.

Pentagon holds talks with Chinese military

A senior Pentagon official held talks with the Chinese military for the first time since President Joe Biden took office in January, a US official told Reuters on Friday.

Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defence for China, spoke last week with Chinese Major Gen Huang Xueping, deputy director for the People’s Liberation Army Office for International Military Cooperation.

“(They) utilised the US-PRC Defence Telephone Link to conduct a secure video conference,” the US official said.

“Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the two militaries,” the official added.