The Chinese military escorted an American guided missile destroyer as it passed through the Taiwan Strait. Shi Yi, spokesman for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Combat Command Eastern Zone, made the announcement in a statement posted on April 17 on WeChat.
According to him, the American destroyer USS Milius passed through the strait on April 16.
“The Eastern Zone of the PLA Combat Command organized detachments to escort and monitor the destroyer along the entire route,” the Chinese military said.
The report clarifies that the Chinese military maintains a high degree of combat readiness to protect the sovereignty and security of the country.
Earlier on Monday, foreign ministers of the G7 countries at a working dinner in the Japanese resort of Karuizawa urged China to take “responsible action.” In particular, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed concern about the situation around Taiwan and called on China to act as a responsible member of the world community.
Earlier, on April 12, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was in favor of the status quo on Taiwan and peaceful methods to resolve the situation. He stressed that Paris adheres to the policy of one China.
In early April, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China would not make concessions on the Taiwan issue. According to him, “anyone who expects China to make concessions on the Taiwan issue is indulging in pipe dreams.”
In March, the socio-economic development plan of the PRC for 2023 was published. In particular, it says that Beijing is determined to continue the resolute struggle against the independence of Taiwan and intends to achieve reunification with its island province.
Relations between the US and China deteriorated after the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which took place in August last year. Beijing considers the island to be its own territory, therefore, it considers the visit of the island by officials of other countries as support for the independence of Taiwan.
Following Pelosi’s visit, the PLA began a live-fire exercise off the island.
The island of Taiwan has been governed by an independent administration since 1949, when the Kuomintang forces led by General Chiang Kai-shek, who lost in the civil war with the Communist Party of China, moved to Taiwan. Contacts between the island and mainland China later resumed.
