Official announcements from the U.S. Department of Defense or credible news sources

USS Ralph Johnson Transits Taiwan Strait Amid China's Increased Incursions, No Protest

Aug 24, 2024, 02:21 PM

The U.S. Navy's guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson recently transited the Taiwan Strait, marking the first such passage by an American naval vessel in three months and the fourth operation of its kind this year. This transit, conducted in accordance with international law, is part of the U.S. Navy's efforts to assert freedom of navigation rights in the region and counter China's expansive claims over the waterway. The passage did not draw a protest from China, although it coincides with increased Chinese warplane incursions around Taiwan. The Navy's Seventh Fleet confirmed the routine nature of the transit, which took place in international waters, beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state. The last U.S. warship to pass through the waterway was the destroyer USS Halsey on May 8, and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft also flew over the Taiwan Strait in May.