Defense ministry confirms passage of two U.S. Navy vessels

ROC Central News Agency

2018/10/22 23:15:23

Taipei, Oct. 22 (CNA) Two United States Navy vessels have sailed into the Taiwan Strait from the south and were continuing on a northeasterly course on Monday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed.

In a statement issued late Monday, the ministry said the passage was a routine transit through the international waters of the strait.

The MND did not provide any additional information on the vessels, saying it was up to the U.S. government to disclose further details.

The passage of the vessels comes at a time of increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing on issues related to trade as well as political and military matters.

Foreign media reported last week that the U.S. was considering sending at least two ships to navigate through the Taiwan Strait as a signal to Beijing that the U.S. military has the right to travel through international waters.

(By Lu Hsin-hui and Ko Lin)
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