Recently, China highlighted its growing concern regarding a United States Navy ship that decided to make port in Taiwan. The action was deemed highly provocative by many observers, especially considering the backdrop of growing tensions between China and the United States.
The vessel, R/V Thomas G. Thompson, is described as a research vessel owned by the United States Office of Naval Research. The Navy research ship arrived in the special municipality of Kaohsiung, which is located in the southwestern region of Taiwan, earlier this week. According to a report from the Associated Press order, the ship makes port in order to refuel and make necessary crew changes.
The Taiwan Minister of Defense highlighted that this is not the first time the R/V Thomas G. Thompson made port in the region. The Ministry added that the action of the oceanographic vessel is not related to any military activity.
In a statement following the actions of the American vessel, Chinese spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lu Kang said that China is having "solemn concerns" regarding the actions of their American counterparts. Mr. Lu added that China has long stood on its directive that the country opposes all military actions and contacts between Taiwan and the United States.
The R/V Thomas G. Thompson is reportedly carrying around 30 scientists from the United States, The Philippines, and Taiwan. According to the Liberty Times, the ship is slated to conduct various oceanographic research in the South China Sea.
The presence of an American naval vessel, despite the fact that it is not participating in any military activity, is raising major alarms in China. The fact that it made port in Taiwan, a highly disputed region, also made China uncomfortable about the intentions behind its actions.
R/V Thomas G. Thompson making port in Taiwan came in a time when China and the United States are embroiled in various disputes, both economically and militarily. Additionally, this recent action comes just weeks after another near miss between the U.S. and a Chinese warship.
A U.S. Navy vessel, sailing under the freedom-of-navigation operation, near the highly contested Spratly group of islands approached a Chinese-occupied territory. At this point, a Chinese destroyer stationed near the area challenged the American vessel to a showdown resulting in a near miss between the two vessels.
Many analysts and observers deemed the actions of the American vessel as an act of aggression. Regardless, the American ship stands by its stance that it is sailing on the freedom-of-navigation operation.
