U.S. WARSHIP TRANSITS TAIWAN STRAIT

A United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer on Thursday, February 4, 2021, transited through the Taiwan Strait, the first by a US warship since Joe Biden was inaugurated as president on Jan. 20.

"An American warship sailed from north to south through the Taiwan Strait," Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a statement, without naming the ship, Matt Yu and Emerson Lim reported for Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA).

The ministry said it monitored the vessels' movements and the situation in the surrounding area remains normal. Meanwhile, according to a separate press release by the U.S. 7th Fleet, the destroyer referred to by the MND was the USS John S. McCain.

"The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Feb. 4 (local time) in accordance with international law," the US 7th Fleet said.

"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The United States military will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows," it added.

WEEKLY FEATURE : COLORSTEEL'S PRESIDENT BREAKS BARRIERS