The Taiwan Strait returns to the center of tensions between the United States and China: two US military ships in transit, harsh reaction from the Beijing government 

The Strait of Taiwan returns to the center of geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. From 10th to 12th February, two US Navy ships passed through the area, prompting an immediate reaction from Beijing, which sent naval and air units to monitor and follow the passage. China denounced the operation as one "serious threat” to regional stability.

The two US Navy ships involved in the mission are the destroyer Uss Ralph Johnson , Bowditch oceanographic vesselAccording to the US Navy, the their transit was routine and part of the operations on freedom of navigation in international waters, a consolidated practice in American strategy in the Indo-Pacific area.

China, however, has reacted harshly. The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command followed the entire passage of the American ships, mobilizing naval and air units. “US action sends wrong signals and increases security risks“, said the spokesman for the Command, Li Xi, adding that the army remains in a state ofi maximum alert to safeguard national sovereignty and regional stability.

Military activity around Taiwan

The Ministry of Defense of Taipei confirmed Chinese military activity around the island, specifying that, within 48 hours of the transit of US ships, have been detected 62 Chinese military aircraft, 15 warships and two coast guard vessels.

The Taiwanese government has assured that the situation is under control and its armed forces maintain a state of constant vigilance. Nowadays, in fact, Taiwan continues to remain a crucial node in US-China relations. Beijing considers the island a inalienable part of its territory e claims sovereignty over the Strait of Taiwan, an important international waterway. The United States, for its part, reiterates the need to maintain freedom of navigation in the area, in defense of the principles of international law.

The Strait of Taiwan between precedents and future prospects

The transit of US military vessels through the Taiwan Strait is not an isolated occurrence. Similar operations occur frequently and are often accompanied by vessels from allied countries.. The last known mission was in late November 2024, when a P-8A Poseidon patrol plane flew over the area. In October, a US Navy ship passed through the Strait in a joint mission with a Canadian government ship.

Although these may be routine operations Rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait reflect the backdrop of growing geopolitical rivalry between the United States and ChinaThe future of the region is still uncertain today, with Taiwan at the center of a dispute with global strategic implications.