Summary
A U.S. warship and an oceanographic survey ship went through the Taiwan Strait, marking the fourth such U.S. Navy passage since President Donald Trump began his second term in 2025. The U.S. says these passages support freedom of navigation, while China, which claims Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, opposes them.
Key Facts
- A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer and a survey ship went through the Taiwan Strait in 2026.
- This passage is the fourth since President Donald Trump started his second term in January 2025.
- China claims the Taiwan Strait as part of its territory but the U.S. considers it international waters.
- The U.S. and its allies have increased their presence in the strait, calling these actions freedom of navigation operations.
- China's military monitored the U.S. ships during their transit.
- The U.S. insists on maintaining open sea routes for all countries and rejects claims limiting these rights.
- There were nine U.S. transits in the strait during former President Joe Biden's last year in office (2024).
- President Trump plans to visit China in April for talks with President Xi Jinping.
