China blasted the New Year's Eve transit of the Taiwan Strait by two U.S. Navy destroyers, making its anger known by having the Ministry of Defense issue the official condemnation instead of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
The defense ministry on Friday said the unopposed transit of the strait separating China from the Republic of China (Taiwan) by the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) indicates the "incumbent U.S. administration's desperate destructive acts." It said a two warship sail-through "is rare," noting this new provocation came after a previous one by another U.S. Navy destroyer on December 13.
Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin assailed the U.S. warships' frequent provocations and urged the U..S to play a constructive role in fostering regional peace and stability, and "not the opposite."
Chinese military pundits noted the ministry delivering the rebuke to the U.S. was intended to show the incoming administration of Joe Biden no country will be allowed to challenge China's core interests. Biden will be formally sworn-in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20.
Observers in China also noted the U.S. has a tradition of stirring-up troubles in close proximity to Chinese festivals, and China's New Year festivals are the country's most important.
In an official statement, the U.S. Navy said the freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) by the USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur was "routine" and "in accordance with international law."
"The ships' transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," said the Navy statement.
On December 22, McCain performed a FONOP in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands, which Taiwan, China, and Vietnam all claimed to own.
On December 24, the destroyer reappeared off Vietnam for another FONOP in the vicinity of the Con Dao Islands in the South China Sea in an unusual warning to Vietnam.
"The ship conducted normal operations within Vietnam's claimed territorial seas to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access and navigational freedoms consistent with international law," said Seventh Fleet headquarters about this FONOP.
The Navy recounted that on December 18, the USS Mustin (DDG-89) also conducted a Taiwan Strait transit. A few days later, the PLAN's newest aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong (CV-17), moved through the strait en route to the South China Sea.
Chinese experts on international relations contend the rare two-warship FONOP reflects the Trump administration's tough stance on the Taiwan question. They said such random acts of bravado are to be expected of outgoing president Donald Trump, who has 19 days left before he leaves office.
However, Biden won't change its strategy of containing China by playing the Taiwan card, contends Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University.
He said the FONOP is part of the Trump administration's "desperate and destructive moves during its final days."
However, Li believes Biden will likely prioritize domestic topics such as the out-of-control COVID-19 pandemic and might be less provocative against China.
