Key Facts
• On January 16-17, U.S. Aegis destroyer John Finn and a hydrographic survey ship passed through the Taiwan Strait.
• China’s Eastern Theater Command, responsible for Taiwan, monitored and responded throughout the transit.
• China strongly condemned the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan worth approximately 1.5 trillion yen.
• Japan’s Prime Minister Takashi made remarks regarding a Taiwan contingency, drawing Chinese criticism.
• Last month, China conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan.
• The U.S. transit aims to check China’s increasing military pressure on Taiwan.
Summary
China’s military announced that the U.S. Navy’s Aegis destroyer John Finn and a hydrographic survey ship transited the Taiwan Strait between January 16 and 17. The Eastern Theater Command emphasized continuous surveillance and effective response during the passage, asserting a firm stance to protect national sovereignty, security, and regional peace. This move follows China’s strong condemnation of the U.S. approval of a 1.5 trillion yen arms sale to Taiwan and Japanese Prime Minister Takashi’s comments on a potential Taiwan conflict. China also conducted large-scale military drills around Taiwan last month. The U.S. transit is seen as a strategic effort to counter China’s growing military pressure on Taiwan, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.
