Coinciding With the Tiananmen Memorial in China, US Warships Sail Through the Taiwan Strait

News24xx.com - A US warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, said the military from the US and Taiwan. On the same day as the 31st anniversary of China's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters around Tiananmen Square.

The Chinese state, which regards self-governing Taiwan as its territory, has been angered by increasing support for the island of democracy by the administration of US President Donald Trump - including more arms sales and regular US patrols.

The Taiwan Ministry of Defense said on Friday that US warships had crossed the Taiwan Strait separating the island from China, heading south.

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Taiwan's armed forces monitor the ship and describe it as an "ordinary mission", the ministry added, without giving further details.

The US Pacific Fleet, in a post on its Facebook page, referred to the ship as USS Russell, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

The US has in recent months stepped up its voyage through the Taiwan Strait, to Chinese anger, adding to tension over everything from Beijing's response to the coronavirus pandemic towards trade and human rights. China has increased its maneuverability in Taiwan as well, both at sea and in the air.

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Though public events took place in Taiwan and Hong Kong held by China on Thursday to mark the Tiananmen commemoration in 1989.

On Thursday, police sprayed pepper several Hong Kong protesters who opposed a ban on holding candlelight demonstrations to commemorate the crackdown, accusing Beijing of also curbing their freedom.