Two US warships are passing through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy has announced.
It is the first such operation to take place since tensions between Taiwan and China increased following a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan earlier this month.
The US and other Western navies have routinely sailed through the strait in recent years.
China reacted to Ms Pelosi’s visit by holding military drills in the area.
On Sunday, Taiwan’s defence ministry says it detected 23 Chinese aircraft and eight Chinese ships operating around Taiwan.
Among the detected aircraft, seven crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait – an unofficial barrier between Taiwan and China.
Washington says its two guided-missile cruisers – the USS Antietam and the USS Chancellorsville – are demonstrating freedom of navigation through international waters.
Beijing views such actions as provocative and maintains that the island of Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.
Credit: bbc.com
