US Navy Ships Navigate Taiwan Strait, Reinforcing Navigation Rights

The USS John Finn, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and the USNS Mary Sears, a Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship, transited the Taiwan Strait on January 16 and 17, 2024. This movement was confirmed by the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, which emphasized the operation’s routine nature aimed at upholding international navigation rights.

According to a statement reported by the US Naval Institute, both vessels sailed through a corridor within the Taiwan Strait that lies outside the territorial waters of any coastal state. The operation was described as a demonstration of the United States’ commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. The statement further asserted, “The international community’s navigational rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be limited.”

This transit marks the fourth occurrence during President Donald Trump‘s second term that a US warship has navigated these waters. The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported that it effectively monitored the maritime and air activities surrounding Taiwan, utilizing joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methods.

The Chinese military also acknowledged the US ships’ passage, with the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command stating through its official WeChat account that its forces remained vigilant. Spokesman Xu Chenghua asserted that the command would “remain on high alert at all times, resolutely defend national sovereignty and security, and maintain regional peace and stability.”

The continued presence of US naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait has been a focal point of regional tensions, reflecting broader geopolitical dynamics. As nations navigate the complexities of sovereignty and international law, the US maintains its stance against any claims that may infringe upon the established freedoms of navigation and overflight.

This transit underscores the United States’ strategic interests in the region, affirming its role in ensuring that such vital waterways remain open and accessible to all nations.