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BANGKOK (AP) – The US military on Monday released footage of China’s “dangerous” exercises in the Taiwan Strait over the weekend. A Chinese naval vessel abruptly crossed the path of the U.S. destroyer, forcing the U.S. warship to proceed. slow down to avoid a collision.
The incident occurred on Saturday while the US destroyer Chun Hung and the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal were transiting the Strait between Taiwan and mainland China in so-called “freedom of navigation”.
China claims Taiwan’s democratic and autonomous island as part of its territory and the Strait as part of its exclusive economic zone, while the United States and its allies regularly navigate through it. and fly over it to reinforce its claim that the area is a strait. International.
During Saturday’s voyage, the Chinese missile destroyer overtook the Chun Hung on the port side and turned across its bow at a distance of about 150 yards (137 meters), according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The US destroyer maintained its course but slowed to 10 knots “to avoid a collision,” the military said.
A video released on Monday shows the Chinese ship crossing the course of the American ship, then straightening up and beginning to sail parallel.
Indo-Pacific Command said the act violated maritime rules for safe navigation on the high seas.
Chinese ships did not attempt a similar maneuver against a Canadian frigate that was sailing behind an American destroyer.
The Indo-Pacific Command said, “The victory and Montreal’s passage through the Taiwan Strait demonstrate the United States and Canada’s joint commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.” “U.S. forces will fly, sail and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows.”
The United States recently said China flew directly in front of the nose of a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea late last month, accusing China of conducting “unnecessarily aggressive maneuvers” in the air as well.
The close call has raised concerns about a possible accident that could lead to escalation between the two militaries amid already heightened tensions in the region.
The incident in the Taiwan Strait occurred on a day when both US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s Defense Minister Li Sang-fu met. I was in Singapore for the annual defense conference.
Li suggested on Sunday that the United States and its allies were creating danger with their patrols and intended to provoke China.
“The best thing to do is for countries, especially naval ships and fighters of other countries, not to take closed actions around other countries’ territories,” he said through an interpreter. “What’s the point of going there? In China, we always say, ‘Do your own thing.'”
Austin had invited Lee to speak on the side of the meeting. Lee refused.
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