Views of the Taiwan Strait can be seen from Xiamen Port in Fujian Province, eastern China. Photo: IC
At 1:52am on Wednesday, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command issued a statement from a spokesman regarding the transport of US ships through the Taiwan Strait. Military experts told the Global Times that this was the first public report of US shipping in 2025 in the Taiwan Strait. Unlike previous transits that normally began and ended on the same day, the operation continues Monday through Wednesday, with experts marking longer periods saying that PLA Eastern Theater Command has released information on the Taiwan Strait transport of US ships. He said he acted more aggressively when doing so.
From Monday through Wednesday, the US destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the USNS Bowditch marine research vessel USNS Bowditch passed the Taiwan Strait. PLA Eastern Theater Command deploys navy and air forces to monitor the entire passage of US ships, effectively responding and managing the situation, Li, spokesman for PLA Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday. Captain Xi said.
US actions have sent false signals and resulted in increased security risks. The Eastern Theatre commander emphasized that he would firmly protect the sovereignty and security of the nation, and that he would firmly protect the peace and stability of the region.
In response to the US’s Taiwan Strait transport, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Bureau of State Council, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that Taiwan’s questions were concerns of China’s core concerns I did. We are firmly against it and do not allow external interference. We have a strong will, complete confidence, and ample ability to protect the sovereignty of our nation and the territorial integrity. The US side adheres to the provisions of one China principle and three China-US joint communica- tions, deals with Taiwan’s questions with caution and validity, and sends false signals to “Taiwan Independence” separatists You have to stop doing that.
“Taiwan is a careless part of China’s territory. Taiwan’s issues have nothing to do with freedom of navigation, but China’s foreign ministry spokesman said at a regular press conference on Wednesday. It has nothing to do with sovereignty and territorial integrity. It challenges or threatens China’s sovereignty and security under the pretext of freedom of navigation.”
It was the first publicly reported incident in which a US naval vessel had passed through the Taiwan Strait in 2025, and their way of transport featured a “new twist.”
First, the US operations were carried out by destroyers with marine research vessels. “Previously, US ships passing through the Taiwan Strait also appeared in pairs of two destroyers and other such as two destroyers, but this is the first time a research vessel has participated in such an operation,” says Chinese military expert. Zhang Junshe told Global Times on Wednesday.
Furthermore, unlike previous instances, this transit lasts longer from Monday to Wednesday and may be related to the involvement of the research vessel. The involvement of the survey vessel can take measurements during travel, map the seabed geological structure, collect hydrological and weather data, and implement underwater monitoring. Striped sonar is very effective in maritime information collection, Zhang said.
According to public records, PLA Eastern Theater Command released information on US ships and aircraft passing through aircraft on November 26, 2024, when an Air Force spokesman for the Priestun Theater Command issued a statement on transportation. It shows that it was done. US P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft via the Taiwan Strait.
The key difference between the two statements is that spokesman Li omitted the term “public hype” when describing US transits. Analysts believe this indicates that PLA Eastern Theater Command is becoming more proactive in messaging. It takes into account the release time, which suggests that information was made public shortly after the US ship left the Taiwan Strait.
Zhang said the active release of information from PLA Eastern Theater Command aims to counter our false narratives, reveal the truth of the matter and clarify the facts.
A Reuters report on Wednesday alleged that the US Navy confirmed that the two ships had carried out the Taiwan Strait transport.
The last time a US naval vessel was confirmed to have passed through the Taiwan Strait was when it took part in a joint mission with a Canadian warship in October last year. On October 20th, the US destroyer USS Higgins and the Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver passed the Taiwan Strait, and the transport was publicly hyped.
Chan said that no matter what new tricks the US military performs, its actions must point out that it sends a false signal to the “Taiwanese Separatist Army.” However, he emphasized that these efforts would not be successful.
On Wednesday, PLA Eastern Theater Command released a lantern festival-themed poster entitled “The sweet dumpling scent in combat positions is particularly fragrant.” Protects peace across the Taiwan Strait, either by air or by sea. Zhang pointed out that the PLA’s rapid response to US transport has reaffirmed its ability to showcase high combat readiness even during the Lantern Festival, showing off its ability to mobilize and engage at any time.
