In recent years, US warships, and sometimes vessels from US allies such as Britain, have regularly sailed through the strait, angering Beijing.
Two US Navy ships are sailing through international waters in the Taiwan Strait, making the first such crossing since tensions with China escalated over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in early August.
In recent years US warships, and sometimes vessels from US-allied states such as Britain, have regularly sailed through the strait, incurring the wrath of Beijing.
Chinese authorities took Pelosi’s visit to the island as a provocation and interference in its internal affairs and responded by holding the largest Taiwan Strait military drills in history and imposing trade sanctions on the island.
China considers Taiwan, a region of 23 million people and its own autonomous government, a breakaway province destined to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan has remained autonomous since the end of the Chinese Civil War (1949).
US officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said the crossing was being made by two US Navy cruisers, Chancellorsville and Antietam.
The information was confirmed by the US Naval General Staff, reports AFP.
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