China on Wednesday expressed resolute opposition to a US destroyer sailing through the Taiwan Straits, warning the move severely damaged regional peace and stability, Eurasia Diary reports citing Fars News Agency.
China has closely followed the American guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur's entire journey through the Taiwan Straits and stands ready to deal with all threats and provocations, Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui of the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command stated in a notice published on Wednesday morning, CGTN reported.
The US Navy’s 7th Fleet announced the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur conducted a “routine Taiwan Strait transit” on Tuesday, but Beijing condemned Washington as the region’s greatest security “risk creator”.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command said their forces monitored the vessel throughout its passage and warned it.
“The US side is intentionally playing the same old tricks and creating trouble and disrupting things in the Taiwan Strait,” it announced, adding that this “fully shows that the United States is the greatest creator of risks for regional security, and we are resolutely opposed to this”.
The US Navy has been conducting such operations in the Taiwan Strait every month or so.