U.S. Warships Transit Taiwan Strait Amid Rising Tensions

Two U.S. Navy ships, the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the survey ship USNS Bowditch, sailed through the Taiwan Strait this week.

This marks the first such transit under U.S. President Donald Trump's new administration, prompting a strong reaction from China.

The U.S. Navy described the passage as a routine operation, emphasizing the freedom of navigation in international waters.

However, China deployed naval and air forces to monitor the transit, criticizing the move as sending the wrong signals and increasing security risks.

The Taiwan Strait remains a contentious area, with China asserting its claim over the waterway, while the U.S. and Taiwan view it as international waters