Two US military vessels, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer the USS Ralph Johnson and the Pathfinder-class survey ship USNS Bowditch passed through the Taiwan Strait from Tuesday to Wednesday last week. That was the first time a US warship has transited the Strait since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, attracting international attention.
The news was announced to the world by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday last week, accompanied by a strong statement. That behavior differed from Beijing’s previous pattern of waiting for the US military to release a report before issuing a condemnation.
It has almost become routine for US warships to transit the Taiwan Strait, so why did Beijing express its dissatisfaction differently this time? There is some speculation that, this time, the US vessels’ route was different from that of previous missions, signaling something unusual. That poses more of a direct challenge to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) territorial assertions over the Taiwan Strait — as a result, Beijing adopted a tougher stance in its response.
First, the USNS Bowditch spent nearly three days transiting the Strait — that demonstrates the ship might have not been merely passing through, but was possibly conducting maritime route exploration and surveys under the watchful eyes of PLA Navy vessels.
More importantly, the ship’s actions appeared to send an international message that the US Navy has already begun expanding battlefield management in the Taiwan Strait — that implies that the US Navy would be prepared to intervene in the event of a military conflict in the region. Thus, Beijing took the initiative to issue a warning and condemnation.
Second, in recent years, Beijing’s use of “legal warfare” over the Taiwan Strait has primarily focused on the argument that most of the strait falls within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). According to Article 9 of the Chinese 1998 Law on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf: “Any international organization, foreign organization or individual engaging in marine scientific research in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the People’s Republic of China must have the approval of the competent authorities of the People’s Republic of China and shall comply with the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China.”
Article 11 of the law stipulates: “Any State, provided that it observes international law and the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, shall enjoy in the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of the People’s Republic of China freedom of navigation and overflight and of laying submarine cables and pipelines, and shall enjoy other legal and practical marine benefits associated with these freedoms.”
Thus, the USNS Bowditch’s movements not only contravene Article 9 of the law, but also did not qualify to enjoy the “freedom of navigation” outlined in Article 11. In other words, the US warship’s three-day exploration operation in the Taiwan Strait was tantamount to the US taking concrete action to challenge the CCP’s “legal warfare” in the Taiwan Strait — something Beijing refuses to take lightly.
In the first two weeks of this month, the Chinese military conducted two joint air and naval combat readiness patrols, and one military exercise during the Lantern Festival, near Taiwan. At a time when the PLA frequently conducts drills in the area, those two US warships openly transited the Taiwan Strait and directly showcased US military presence during an ongoing PLA military exercise — it is only natural that Beijing would kick up a fuss.
Chieh Chung is a research fellow and secretary-general at the Association of Strategic Foresight.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
The Chinese government on March 29 sent shock waves through the Tibetan Buddhist community by announcing the untimely death of one of its most revered spiritual figures, Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche. His sudden passing in Vietnam raised widespread suspicion and concern among his followers, who demanded an investigation. International human rights organization Human Rights Watch joined their call and urged a thorough investigation into his death, highlighting the potential involvement of the Chinese government. At just 56 years old, Rinpoche was influential not only as a spiritual leader, but also for his steadfast efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan identity and cultural
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Former minister of culture Lung Ying-tai (龍應台) has long wielded influence through the power of words. Her articles once served as a moral compass for a society in transition. However, as her April 1 guest article in the New York Times, “The Clock Is Ticking for Taiwan,” makes all too clear, even celebrated prose can mislead when romanticism clouds political judgement. Lung crafts a narrative that is less an analysis of Taiwan’s geopolitical reality than an exercise in wistful nostalgia. As political scientists and international relations academics, we believe it is crucial to correct the misconceptions embedded in her article,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
RSS