China “fully monitors” the transit of a US ship through the Taiwan Strait

Beijing stresses that “it will resolutely protect national sovereignty” and Washington speaks of “routine transit”

June 22 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Chinese authorities have stressed this Thursday that they have “fully supervised” the passage of a US Coast Guard vessel through the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from the island of Taiwan.

The spokesman for the Chinese Coast Guard, Gan Yu, has indicated that the passage of this vessel “has raised public interest”, before adding that the Chinese authorities “accompanied it all the way, addressing the case in line with the laws and regulations”.

“The Chinese Coast Guard will strengthen law enforcement in waters under Chinese jurisdiction and resolutely protect national sovereignty, security, and (the country’s) maritime rights and interests,” Gan said, according to a statement released by the Coast Guard. Chinese coastal on its website.

For its part, the United States Seventh Fleet has confirmed the passage of the ‘Stratton’ in what it has described as “a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait”, before stressing that “freedom of navigation and overflight, in line with International Law”.

“The ship has transited a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial waters of any coastal state. The Stratton’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US Army flies, navigates and operates wherever allowed by International Law,” he added.

The passage of the boat also takes place after the president of the United States, Joe Biden, branded his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, a “dictator” on Tuesday, statements that Beijing called “political provocation”, shortly after the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will visit the Asian giant to try to reduce tensions.

During his visit, Blinken assured that the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan and reiterated Washington’s support for the “one China” principle, although he called China’s actions in the Taiwan Strait and the Sea “provocative”. East Chinese.

Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the territory under its sovereignty and its fundamental policy towards the island is that of peaceful reunification under the “one country, two systems” principle, although it does not rule out the use of force before “independence attempts”.