US Navy, Coast Guard cross-transit Taiwan Strait

A US Navy warship, and a US Coast Guard vessel transited the Taiwan Strait simultaneously, but in opposite directions yesterday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed today, August 28.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) and legend-class U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) conducted routine Taiwan Strait transits Aug. 27 (local time) through international waters in accordance with international law, US Naval Institute reported.

The US Navy ship’s transit marked the eighth passage by a US warship so far this year.

In the backdrop to the transits were five days of live fire drills by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) north and south of the strait, and comments by US Vice President Kamala Harris criticizing Beijing’s unlawful claims in the South China Sea.

“Beijing’s actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations,” Harris said during a visit to the region earlier this week.

“The ships’ lawful transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the US 7th Fleet said in a press release regarding the transits.

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