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Key Points

China has strongly rebuked the United States for sailing naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait, reiterating its stance that Taiwan is an integral part of its territory. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that the Taiwan issue is not about navigation freedom but about China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Taiwan's defense ministry reported detecting multiple PLA aircraft and naval vessels operating near the island, highlighting ongoing regional tensions. The longstanding geopolitical conflict, rooted in the Chinese Civil War, continues to simmer with Beijing maintaining its "One China" policy while Taiwan asserts its de facto independence.

Key Points: China Warns US Over Taiwan Strait Naval Passage

  • China firmly opposes US naval vessels crossing Taiwan Strait
  • PLA aircraft and naval vessels detected near Taiwan
  • Tensions continue over territorial sovereignty dispute
3 min read

China says Taiwan inalienable part of its territory as two US vessels sail across Taiwan Strait

Beijing reaffirms Taiwan sovereignty claim amid US naval transit, tensions escalate in strategic maritime region

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory - Guo Jiakun, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson"

Beijing February 13

Following the recent transit of two US ships through the Taiwan Strait, Beijing reiterated its position on Taiwan, emphasised that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and stated that it "opposes any country challenging or threatening China's sovereignty and security under the pretext of freedom of navigation."

During a regular press conference on Wednesday, Guo Jiakun, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said, "Let me stress that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question has nothing to do with freedom of navigation but bears on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

He added, "China firmly opposes any country challenging or threatening China's sovereignty and security under the pretext of freedom of navigation."

In a post on X on Wednesday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) had said that two US naval vessels sailed through the Taiwan Strait from north to south on February 10.

It wrote, "Two U.S. naval vessels sailed through the Taiwan Strait from north to south starting on the 10th. During this period, #ROCArmedForces maintained full control over the surrounding sea and airspace, with the situation remaining normal."

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1889496512100757741

Meanwhile, Taiwan on Thursday detected six sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, and one official ship operating around the island as of 6 am (UTC+8).

According to MND, four of the six aircraft sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

In a post on X, MND wrote, "6 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today."

It added, "4 out of 6 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

In recent weeks, China has visibly increased its capacity to conduct amphibious assaults on Taiwan's beaches with new naval equipment. This includes the formal launch of a unique advanced landing helicopter assault (LHA) vessel and the mass production of floating bridge docks to aid ship unloading during beach landings.

The Taiwan-China conflict remained a longstanding geopolitical issue centred on Taiwan's sovereignty. While Taiwan functioned as a de facto independent state with its own government, military, and economy, Beijing considered it a breakaway province under the "One China" policy.

Since the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), when the Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan, China had used diplomatic, economic, and military measures to pressure Taiwan, which continued to assert its independence with strong domestic support.

- ANI

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