US Navy sends first warship through sensitive Taiwan Strait following elections on island

The US Navy sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait for the first time following presidential elections on the island.

The US Navy said the first such mission of the destroyer USS John Finn in the Taiwan Strait demonstrates America’s “commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle”.

“The ship transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State,” the US 7th Fleet said in a statement.

The Chinese military objected to what it called “provocative acts” and said the mission was «public hyping» that was monitored by the forces.

«Recently, the US military has frequently carried out provocative acts to maliciously undermine regional peace and stability,» the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said that the ship sailed in a southerly direction through the strait, adding it monitored the movement and the situation was “normal” during the latest transit.

It comes as Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te on Thursday expressed hopes over the Washing’s continued support to Taipei as he met the first group of US lawmakers, who arrived on first such American visit since the elections.

US officials meet Taiwan president-elect William Lai

“I hope the United States can continue to firmly support Taiwan, deepen bilateral cooperation and relations and work with other democratic partners to ensure peace and prosperity in the region,” Mr Lai said.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has branded Mr Lai as aseparatist and “troublemaker” after he swept the presidential polls in a crucial election for the self-governed island amid a concerted campaign of pressure by Beijing.

The Xi Jinping-led