US Navy Cruises Through the Taiwan Strait After Pelosi’s Visit
On Sunday, Aug 28, the US Navy rolled out two cruisers—Chancellorsville and Antietam—undercutting the narrow Taiwan Strait, the first such run since Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid a stop‑over in Taipei.
Why the Strait Matters
- The channel cuts across a tense border between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China.
- It has been a hotspot for decades, ever since the dragon fled to Taiwan after the civil war in 1949.
- Every U.S. warship that sails through is a headline‑maker for Beijing.
What the Ships Were Doing
According to the Navy, the cruisers were simply following the international corridor that lies beyond any national territorial sea. A routine 8‑12‑hour transit, monitored by the Chinese military.
China’s Reaction
- China’s Eastern Theater Command sent a stern warning while keeping troops on high alert, ready to “thwart any provocation.”
- The country has been conducting larger drills since Pelosi’s trip, days after the U.S. lawmakers’ fan‑fare in Taiwan.
U.S. Position
John Kirby, the National Security Council’s spokesperson, told CNN that the passage “fits neatly with the U.S. One‑China policy” and reaffirms a “free and open Indo‑Pacific.” The operation was a long‑planned, standard expression of the U.S. “no‑limits‑on‑action” stance under international law.
Taiwan’s Take
Taiwan’s defense ministry says the cruisers were moving southward and that the island’s forces were simply keeping a close eye, describing the situation as “normal.”
The Bigger Picture
- U.S. lawmakers like Senator Marsha Blackburn have also visited Taiwan, defying Beijing’s pressure.
- President Biden’s administration stresses routine congressional trips and tries to keep tensions from turning into conflict.
- China has never ruled Taiwan, but it continues to threaten forceful integration.
- Taiwan’s 23 million residents insist their future is decided by themselves.
So, it’s a classic dance: U.S. ships sail—China watches with red‑eye drills, Taiwan stays calm—and the world watches the wink of international freedom. The only question left is: can the talks move past the point of “normal” to a more lasting solution?
