(Updates with what was said by the Taiwanese authorities in 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th paragraphs)
Beijing/Taipei, May 9 (EFE).- In the last few hours, the Chinese Army condemned the passage of the American destroyer Arleigh Burke USS Halsey through the Taiwan Strait this Wednesday, less than two weeks before the inauguration of the elected and current president. vice president of the island, William Lai (Lai Ching-te).
“The Arleigh Burke USS Halsey sailed through the waters of the Taiwan Strait on May 8, seeking notoriety,” military spokesman Li Xi said late Wednesday night in a statement published on the official account of the Eastern Theater of Operations. Chinese army on the Weibo social network.
According to Li, the Eastern Theater of Operations organized “troops to follow and monitor all movements” of the ship, which it chased away “in accordance with the law.”
“The Eastern Theater forces are always on high alert, ready to defend national sovereignty, security and regional peace and stability,” the spokesperson added.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Halsey sailed through a corridor outside the territorial waters of any country and in which international laws “allow freedom of navigation and overflight,” according to a statement released by the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet. USA, which added that the maneuver “demonstrates the commitment of the United States to defend freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle.”
“No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms,” the fleet stated.
For his part, Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, Hsu Yen-pu, assured this Thursday that the island Army had “total control” over the passage of the American ship through the strait.
“The Ministry of National Defense (MDN) will provide support for actions that contribute to regional peace and stability,” Hsu said, according to the state news agency CNA.
Hsu, commander of the Taiwanese Army between 2021 and 2023, considered that the transit of the destroyer is not related to Lai’s inauguration, scheduled for May 20, but rather that it is a “routine” exercise that is part of “freedom.” navigation”.
“The MDN can use various intelligence and surveillance systems to monitor the various situations around the Taiwan Strait (…). If there are special situations, relevant early warnings will be taken. Currently, the situation around the strait is stable and normal,” the vice minister stressed.
Since the presidential elections on January 13, in which Lai – considered an “independence supporter” in the eyes of Beijing – won with 40% of the votes, China has intensified its pressure on Taiwan with various measures, including the increasing Coast Guard patrols around the Kinmen Islands or modifying several air routes through the strait.
Taiwan – where the Chinese nationalist Kuomintang army withdrew after defeat by communist troops in the civil war – has been governed autonomously since 1949, although China claims sovereignty over the island, which it considers a rebellious province. for whose “reunification” he has not ruled out the use of force.
The island is one of the biggest reasons for conflict between China and the United States, mainly due to the fact that Washington is Taiwan’s main arms supplier and would be its greatest military ally in the event of a war with the Asian giant.EFE
aa-jacb/rrt
