The U.S. military on Monday released a video of what it called a "dangerous" Chinesemaneuver in the Taiwan Strait over the weekend.
Then a Chinese navy ship abruptly crossed the path of an American destroyer, forcing the American ship to slow down to avoid a collision.
The incident occurred on Saturday as the US destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal were conducting the so-called "freedom of navigation" transit of the strait between Taiwan and mainland China.
Moment when the Chinese ship crosses the path of the US destroyer Photo: AP
China claims the democratic self-governing island of Taiwan as part of its own territory and maintains that the strait separating it from mainland China is part of its exclusive economic zone, while the United States maintains that they are international waters.
How was the maneuver
During Saturday's transit, the Chinese guided-missile destroyer overtook the Chung-Hoon on its port side (from the left), then veered through its bow at a distance of about 150 yards (137 meters), according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
The U.S. destroyer maintained its course but reduced speed to 10 knots "to avoid a collision," the military said.
The American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon sails alongside the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal. Photo: Reuters
Video released Monday shows the Chinese ship traversing the American's course and then righting itself to begin sailing in a parallel direction.
The Indo-Pacific Command said the actions violated maritime rules of safe passage in international waters.
The Chinese ship did not attempt a similar maneuver on the Canadian frigate, which was sailing behind the American destroyer.
"The transit of Chung-Hoon and Montreal through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the combined commitment of the United States and Canada to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Indo-Pacific Command said.
"The U.S. military flies, sails, and operates safely and responsibly anywhere international law allows."
China defends its maneuver
Defense Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin defended the move. Photo: EFE
China's defense minister on Sunday defended one of its warships crossing the path of the U.S. destroyer, telling a meeting in Singapore of several of the world's top defense officials that so-called "freedom of navigation" patrols are a provocation to China.
In his first public appearance since becoming defense minister in March, Gen. Li Shangfu told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China has no problem with "innocent passage," but that "we must prevent attempts that try to use those freedom of navigation (patrols), that innocent passage, to exercise navigation hegemony."
At the same forum on Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington will not "waver in the face of China's coercion and intimidation" and would continue to sail and fly around the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea to stress that they are in international waters, contrary to Beijing's sweeping territorial claims.
Associated Press
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