Tensions in East Asia flared up again as China issued a sharp warning to Britain and the United States after both nations sent warships through the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing accused the move of stirring instability in the region, saying the two allies were deliberately creating trouble.
China Shadows Western Warships
According to Beijing, Chinese forces closely monitored the American destroyer USS Higgins and the British frigate HMS Richmond during their transit on Friday.
While Washington and London described it as a “routine operation,” China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) claimed the manoeuvre was provocative and harmful to peace.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi of the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command declared the passage had “sent the wrong signals,” stressing that Chinese forces would remain on high alert to defend national sovereignty.
The Western Response
Both the UK and US downplayed China’s criticism.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence emphasized that the Royal Navy operates strictly within international law, exercising its right to freedom of navigation under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Similarly, the US Indo-Pacific Command described the mission as a simple routine passage, arguing that the Taiwan Strait lies beyond the territorial waters of any single nation.
Washington insisted that “navigational rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be restricted.”
Not the First Time
This latest confrontation follows a similar incident just a week earlier when Canadian and Australian warships sailed through the same waters, also triggering Beijing’s anger.
At the same time, China showcased its growing military power by sending its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, through the strait for training exercises.
China’s Aircraft Carrier Fujian
The Fujian, a massive carrier that departed from Shanghai on Wednesday, was reported to be heading for the South China Sea for scientific research and training.
China insisted the deployment was part of the vessel’s routine development schedule and not directed at any particular country.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian defended the move, stating that Chinese naval activities in the area fully complied with both domestic and international law.
Heated Exchanges Between Defence Chiefs
The diplomatic dispute also spilled into high-level defence talks.
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun directly warned his new US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, against supporting Taiwan.
He cautioned that any attempt to use force to encourage Taiwan’s independence or to use the island as leverage against China “would be thwarted.”
In response, the Pentagon said Hegseth reassured China that Washington was not seeking conflict or regime change but made it clear that the US has vital interests in the Asia-Pacific and would protect them firmly.
The Taiwan Question
At the heart of the dispute lies Taiwan’s status.
China considers the self-governed island a part of its territory and has vowed to reunify with it, even by force if necessary.
The United States, while not officially recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation, continues to supply it with weapons and firmly opposes any military takeover.
What’s Next?
The repeated naval transits by Western allies, China’s show of military strength, and the fiery rhetoric from both sides signal that the Taiwan Strait will remain a flashpoint.
With each passage, the question becomes sharper: will this ongoing power struggle tilt toward open confrontation, or can diplomacy keep the peace afloat?