A US Coast Guard cutter made a rare solo transit through the Taiwan Strait on June 20, which came a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his two-day visit to Beijing.
The US frequently sends ships through the Taiwan Strait, but US Navy warships typically make the transits. US Coast Guard cutters have sailed through the sensitive waterway in recent years but are usually accompanied by a Navy ship.
The US Navy’s Seventh Fleet announced the transit on Thursday, describing it as “routine,” but the maneuver comes amid heightened tensions between the US and China, and Beijing has become increasingly fed up with US military activity in the region. Chinese officials have condemned US transits of the Taiwan Strait as provocations.
The Chinese Coast Guard described the US transit as “public hype” and said its vessels tailed the cutter “all the way” through the Strait. According to Japan Times, the incident was the first known time that the Chinese Coast Guard responded to a foreign vessel sailing through the waterway as opposed to the Chinese military.
The Chinese Coast Guard vowed to “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests.”
The US Coast Guard has vowed to increase its presence near China’s coast and is expected to soon start joint patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, which would potentially put the US vessels in confrontations with the Chinese Coast Guard.
If China pulled this sh-t near our territories, we’d blow them out of the water…
Actually, the US prefers to weather balloons and would most likely send a proxy from Latin America.
Yep, that’s why I hope China built a big base in Cuba along with Russia. Then maybe another in Baja Mexico;-)
It pulls the curtain back on the Orwellian language of US “defense” when US coastal defense ships transit through disputed waters 6700 or so miles away.
Are they trying to claim that China aggressively placed its coast right next to the US Coast Guard?
“China aggressively placed its coast right next to the US Coast Guard”
you couldn’t make that sh*t up
Yes, just like Russia placed its country next to U.S. Bases.
Ah yes, the US Coast Guard. Protecting the…Chinese coast?
LOL and my thought also.
Sounds the public campaign to increase the Coast Guard’s budget is underway.
I wonder what the new ships will be like?
Our military always has several reasons for doing things and beyond tweeking the Chinese, I bet they want to expand the Coast Guard with snazzy new ships and capabilities.
You expand one’s power in DC by getting more “stuff” and it appears the Coast Guard wants more stuff.
“”The US Coast Guard is increasing its presence near China’s coast””
well they are the coast guard after all
It’s all China’s fault, they put their country way too close to US bases and aircraft carriers.
Coast Guard is supposed to protect our coasts.
Meanwhile,Coast Guard Cutters present virtually no threat to China.
Poor US Coast Guard is now Taiwan Island Guard.
The SS Minow sails again! Maybe they can offer another 3 hour tour.