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U.S. Destroyer, Cargo Ship Pass Through Taiwan Strait in 4th Warship Transit in 5 Months
U.S. Destroyer, Cargo Ship Pass Through Taiwan Strait in 4th Warship Transit in 5 Months
By: Megan Eckstein
February 25, 2019 3:49 PM
Two U.S. Navy ships passed through the Taiwan Strait today for the fourth time in recent months, in a move that is allowed under international law but usually provokes a negative reaction from China.
“USS Stethem (DDG 63) and USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE-14) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Feb. 25 (local time), in accordance with international law. The ships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows,” U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman said in a statement to USNI News.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship paired up for what was the fourth strait passage in five months. USS McCampbell (DDG-85) and oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193) steamed through the 110-mile-wide body of water separating Taiwan from mainland China in January; USS Stockdale (DDG-106) and USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) conducted a Taiwan Strait transit in November; and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) conducted a strait transit in October.
“USS Stethem (DDG 63) and USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE-14) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Feb. 25 (local time), in accordance with international law. The ships’ transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows,” U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman said in a statement to USNI News.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship paired up for what was the fourth strait passage in five months. USS McCampbell (DDG-85) and oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193) steamed through the 110-mile-wide body of water separating Taiwan from mainland China in January; USS Stockdale (DDG-106) and USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) conducted a Taiwan Strait transit in November; and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) conducted a strait transit in October.
https://news.usni.org/2019/02/25/u-s-destroyer-cargo-ship-conduct-taiwan-strait-transit-4th-time-5-months