US Warship Passes Through Taiwan Strait... China Criticizes as 'Provocative Act'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The U.S. Navy once again sailed through the Taiwan Strait, which China closely monitors as if it were its own territorial waters, seemingly to flaunt its presence. This move is interpreted as a demonstration of the unwavering alliance amid China's harsh accusations that the U.S. will abandon Taiwan just as it did Afghanistan.

According to major foreign media on the 27th (local time), the USS Kidd, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the U.S. Navy, and the USCGC Munro, a Coast Guard cutter, passed through the Taiwan Strait the previous day. The U.S. Navy stated that these vessels transited international waters in accordance with international law. It added, "Lawful navigation through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," and explained, "The U.S. military conducts air and maritime operations wherever international law permits." The U.S. military passes through the Taiwan Strait almost every month, provoking protests from China.

China criticized the U.S. military's passage through the Taiwan Strait as a "provocative act" and announced that the People's Liberation Army was organized to shadow and monitor the U.S. vessels. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense stated, "The United States frequently engages in similar provocative acts, demonstrating that it is the greatest disruptor of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the largest security risk," adding, "We firmly oppose and strongly condemn this." The spokesperson further said, "Taiwan is inseparable from China, and the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair, so external interference will not be tolerated," and expressed hope that the U.S. would recognize this situation, cease provocations, and abide by the 'One China' principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques that respect it.

Like most other countries, the United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, the U.S. is Taiwan's most important supporter in the international community and its largest arms supplier. This U.S. military passage through the Taiwan Strait came amid growing doubts about America's credibility in the international community following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's takeover. In particular, China has repeatedly raised its voice, claiming that Taiwan will be abandoned by the U.S. just like Afghanistan after the U.S. military withdrawal.

China's state-run media Global Times emphasized in an editorial titled "Why the U.S. Will Eventually Abandon Taiwan" on the 19th that the U.S. abandoning Taiwan is only a matter of "time and circumstances." The Global Times mocked Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's call for Taiwan to become stronger and self-reliant after the fall of Afghanistan, saying, "Taiwan says it does not rely on others' protection, but these words do not come from the heart." It added, "Taiwan is no different from Afghanistan," and stated, "If the cost of maintaining the Taiwan regime exceeds the benefits, the U.S. will abandon Taiwan."

However, U.S. President Joe Biden dismissed comparisons between U.S. involvement in the Indo-Pacific region and the situation in Afghanistan. In a media interview on the 19th, President Biden said that if allies such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and NATO members are attacked, the U.S. will respond. He emphasized that these alliances differ from Afghanistan and stated that the U.S. would respond if they were attacked. This week’s visits by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to Singapore and Vietnam are also analyzed as demonstrations of the U.S.'s commitment to the region.