China decries security risks after US warship transits Taiwan Strait again

TAIPEI (REUTERS) - A US warship again sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Tuesday (Nov 23), part of what the US military calls routine activity but which always riles China whose government believes Washington is trying to stir regional tensions.

The US Navy said the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Milius conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" through international waters in accordance with international law.

"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows," it added.

The Chinese military said on Tuesday that the transit of Milius in the Taiwan Strait was creating security risks and undermining regional stability.

China's military will take all necessary steps to counter all threats and provocations, and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, a military spokesman said in a statement.

Last month, the Chinese military condemned the United States and Canada for each sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait, saying they were threatening peace and stability in the region.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified, by force, if necessary. Beijing has mounted repeated air force missions into Taiwan's air defence identification zone (Adiz) over the past year or so, provoking anger in Taipei.

The United States like most countries has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its most important international backer and arms supplier.

China calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with Washington.

US Navy ships have been transiting the strait roughly monthly, to the anger of Beijing. US allies occasionally also send ships through the strait, including Britain in September.