[아시아경제 조유진 기자] For the first time since President Joe Biden took office, a US warship passed through the Taiwan Strait, off the coast of China on the 4th.
The 7th Fleet of the US Navy confirmed through its website on the 3rd (local time) that the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer John s McCain (DDG 56) had passed the Taiwan Strait as part of its normal operation based on international law.
The 7th Fleet said, “The passage of (US) warships through the Taiwan Strait shows the United States’ promise for a free and open Indo-Pacific.” “The US military will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits.” Emphasized.
On December 30 last year, the 7th Fleet passed through the Taiwan Strait for normal operations.
During the Donald Trump administration, U.S. naval ships carried out a “freedom of navigation” operation that passed through the Taiwan Strait almost once a month, and China was harshly opposed.
The first passage of the US military through the Taiwan Strait since President Biden took office suggests that the US support for Taiwan will not change even with the change of the US administration.
“There is a bipartisan agreement on Taiwan,” said US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln. “Some of it is to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to defend itself against aggression, and it is a promise that this government will absolutely endure.”
China carried out military activities close to high-intensity armed demonstrations, sending more than 10 fighters, bombers, and reconnaissance planes to the air defense identification zone in southwestern Taiwan on both days from the 23rd to the 24th of last month. It was analyzed that it was a test of the Biden administration, who was wondering whether to do it.
Reporter Jo Yu-jin [email protected]