“Against the background of the increasing number of incursions of Chinese warships and aircraft into its sea and air space, Japan sent a ship of its Self-Defense Forces through the Taiwan Strait for the first time.”, — write: www.ukrinform.ua
The Japanese destroyer Sazanami, part of a squadron with Australian and New Zealand warships, transited the narrow waterway between China and Taiwan to the South China Sea on Wednesday.
China, which considers self-governing Taiwan its own province and seeks sole control over the Taiwan Strait, harshly criticizes the transits of foreign warships through this waterway, calling them provocations.
Tokyo has previously taken a cautious stance and refrained from such steps in order to avoid a negative reaction from Beijing and the complication of already tense relations between the two countries. However, a sharp increase in the number of incursions by Chinese warships and aircraft into Japan’s sea and airspace over the past month has prompted the country’s government to take decisive action.
Read also: Beijing blamed Taiwanand in the organization of cyber attacks and attempts to discredit the Chinese government The United States regularly sends its warships through the Taiwan Strait as part of freedom of navigation operations that, despite China’s anger, have been joined by its allies, including Britain and Australia.
As Ukrinform reported, in mid-September, Germany sent two warships through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in over twenty years.
Photo: Kyodo News