U.S. Navy Conducts First Taiwan Strait Transit of Trump Presidency

China calls the passage of two U.S. naval ships a security risk, escalating tensions over the contested waterway.

The USS Ralph Johnson, a guided-missile destroyer, and the USNS Bowditch, a survey ship, completed a three-day transit through the Taiwan Strait from Monday to Wednesday.
This marks the first U.S. naval operation in the Taiwan Strait since President Donald Trump took office in January.
China’s People’s Liberation Army monitored the ships throughout the transit, accusing the U.S. of sending 'wrong signals' and increasing regional security risks.
The U.S. Navy described the operation as routine, emphasizing freedom of navigation in international waters as defined by maritime law.
China continues to claim sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan, while the U.S. and its allies regularly challenge these claims through similar transits.