Two U.S. warships have passed through the Taiwan Strait, the first since July last year, in a move likely to be seen in Beijing as a show of support for Taipei by Washington.
The USS Mustin and USS Benfold guided-missile destroyers, which are both home-ported at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, were the first such American vessels to pass through the strait since the USS John McCain made the transit in July 2017.
The move comes amid a trade war between the U.S. and China and escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, which has warned that it will defend — by force if necessary — its "One China" principle under which the self-ruling island is seen as part of China's own territory, awaiting reunification.