
San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD-20) transited the Taiwan Strait Friday morning at a time of increased trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
News of the transit was first reported by Reuters.
As news of Green Bay’s Taiwan Strait transit spread, China announced it was increasing a host of existing tariffs on U.S. products by five to ten percent, according to a post on MarketWatch.
China considers it a provocation when foreign naval vessels pass through the 110-wide body of water separating the mainland from the island of Taiwan. The policy of the U.S. and other nations steaming through the strait is these trips are intended to ensure the free passage of vessels through the international waters.
Since July 2018, the U.S. Navy has sent ships through the Taiwan Strait ten times. French and Canadian naval vessels have also transited the strategic waterway during the past year.
Recent U.S. Taiwan Strait Transits:
Jul 7, 2018 | USS Benfold (DDG-65), USS Mustin (DDG-92) |
Oct 22, 2018 | USS Antietam (CG-54), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) |
Nov 28, 2018 | USS Stockdale (DDG-106), USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) |
Jan 24, 2019 | USS McCampbell (DDG-85), USS Walter Dielh (T-AO-193) |
Feb 25, 2019 | USS Stethem (DDG-63), USNS Ceasar Chavez (T-AKE-14) |
March 24, 2019 | USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), USCGC Bertholf (WSML-750) |
April 28, 2019 | USS Stethem (DDG-63), USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) |
May 23 | USS Preble (DDG-88), USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193) |
July 24, 2019 | USS Antietam (CG-54) |
August 23, 2019 | USS Green Bay (LPD-20) |