South China Sea Tensions: US Navy Destroyer Transits Strategic Taiwan Strait, Risking Beijing's Anger

KEY POINTS

USS Barry (DDG 52) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Wednesday
The ship was followed and monitored by the Chinese military, Beijing says
China considers Taiwan part of its territory in the "one country, two systems" concept

Defying danger, U.S. guided-missile destroyer, USS Barry (DDG 52), conducted a routine transit through the waterway separating China from Taiwan on Wednesday, a move which has aggrieved Beijing.

The incident occurred at a time when Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked the naval soldiers to get ready for war. While inspecting the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Marine Corps in Chaozhou, Xi Jinping told the soldiers to get ready for fighting under multidimensional conditions.

"The Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Oct. 14 (local time) in accordance with international law. The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," according to a statement by America's Navy Press release.

"The U.S. Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows," it added.

Reacting to the move, China said that Washington was seriously undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Reuters reported.

The spokesman for China’s eastern theatre command, Zhang Chunhui, said in a statement that USS Barry was followed and monitored by the Chinese military.

The spokesman also stated that the country would resolutely defend its territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability in the region. Zhang also warned the U.S. to stop its actions in the Taiwan Strait.

China claims Taiwan as a part of its domain in the "one country, two systems" concept. However, the island nation isn't agreeable and operates with de-facto sovereignty.

Since the end of a civil war in China in 1949, Taiwan has been governed separately. The island also has its own currency and flag, however, the United Nations has not recognised it as an independent nation.

The U.S. remains an ally to Taiwan and its chief arms supplier. Washington ended diplomatic relations with Taipei to improve ties with China in 1979.