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China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan,
and says it has jurisdiction over the strait. Taiwan and the
United States dispute that, saying the Taiwan Strait is an
international waterway
The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement that the destroyer
USS Ralph Johnson made a "routine" transit of the strait in
accordance with international law.
China's military described the sailing as "public hype", adding
it had sent naval and air forces to monitor and warn the U.S.
ship and "deal with it in accordance with the law and
regulations".
"Troops in the theatre remain on high alert at all times and
will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security as
well as regional peace and stability," the Eastern Theatre
Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said.
Taiwan's defense ministry said the ship sailed in a northerly
direction through the strait and that Taiwanese forces had
monitored the situation but observed nothing unusual.
U.S. military ships and aircraft transit the narrow strait about
once a month.
Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims and says
only the island's people can decide their future.
China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under
its control.
(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Additional reporting by Ben
Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Kim Coghill, Himani Sarkar and
Bernadette Baum)
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